TN Speaker seeks fresh explanation from four ex-AIADMK MLAs in defection case

Chennai, July 30 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.T. Prabhakar has directed four former AIADMK legislators, who resigned from the party and later joined the TVK, to appear before him on August 4 to submit further explanations in connection with disqualification proceedings initiated under the anti-defection law.

The four legislators are Maragatham Kumaravel, the Independent MLA from Madurantakam who was elected with AIADMK’s support; Jayakumar from Perundurai; Sathyabama, the Independent MLA from Dharapuram backed by the AIADMK; and Isakki Subbiah from Ambasamudram.

All four resigned from the AIADMK after winning the Assembly election and subsequently joined the TVK.

The proceedings stem from a petition filed by AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who urged the Speaker to disqualify the legislators under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.

The petition contends that the MLAs voluntarily gave up their association with the party on whose support they were elected and are therefore liable to lose their Assembly membership.

Following the complaint, Speaker Prabhakar had earlier summoned the four legislators and sought their explanations. They appeared before him and submitted their responses.

The Assembly Secretariat had initially scheduled another hearing for July 30, during which the four legislators were asked to appear again.

Speaker Prabhakar had also invited Edappadi Palaniswami to be present during the proceedings. However, the hearing has now been postponed.

The Assembly Secretariat informed the concerned parties that the matter will instead be taken up on August 4, when the four legislators are expected to appear before the Speaker once again and provide further clarification.

The AIADMK has maintained that the legislators attracted disqualification by switching political allegiance after their election and has been pressing for early action on the petition.

Meanwhile, AIADMK MLA Agri S. Krishnamurthy has said that Edappadi Palaniswami would decide whether to personally appear before the Speaker only after the explanations submitted by the four legislators are examined.

The Speaker is expected to hear the matter further on August 4 before deciding the next course of action in the disqualification proceedings.

–IANS

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