None of the disqualified 18 MLAs rejoining AIADMK, says Dhinakaran loyalist

Disqualified AIADMK MLA Thangathamizh Selvan said his decision to withdraw a case in the Madras High Court challenging the disqualification is due to his loss of hope in getting justice from the judiciary.

All the 18 disqualified legislators of the AIADMK are united and the party can’t lure even one of them, a disqualified MLA said here on Tuesday.

Sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, flanked by supporting MLAs, after Madras High Court delivered a split verdict on the petitions challenging disqualification of 18 AIADMK legislators, in Chennai on June 16, 2018. (PTI File Photo)

Speaking to reporters here, Thangathamizh Selvan termed as “motivated rumours” the reports about some of the disqualified lawmakers going back to the AIADMK.

Selvan said his decision to withdraw a case in the Madras High Court challenging the disqualification is due to his loss of hope of getting justice from the judiciary.

“But that does not mean there is a split in the 18 disqualified legislators.”

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said those who have left the party will join back as it is the compulsion of time.

Eighteen AIADMK legislators were disqualified as lawmakers by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal after they met the Governor and gave a memorandum expressing loss of confidence in K Palaniswami and requested him to appoint a new Chief Minister.

The disqualified legislators filed a case against the Speaker’s action. On June 14, a two-member bench of Madras High Court gave a split verdict with the Chief Justice Indira Banerjee upholding the disqualification while companion judge Justice M. Sundar ruling that the Speaker’s decision was invalid.