Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that the “longevity of the anti-people government has been extended” because of Thursday’s judgment.
Speaking to reporters, Dhinakaran, who was accompanied by the disqualified MLAs, said, “While one judge has deemed the Speaker’s decision (to disqualify MLAs) as invalid, CJI has ruled the Speaker’s actions to be valid. But a couple of months ago, the CJI ruled in the Puducherry Speaker’s case that his action wasn’t valid. As a layman, I don’t understand how there can be one law for T.N.’s Speaker and one for Puducherry’s Speaker.”
He said that while he would call for a floor test, the 18 MLAs who are his supporters “are still a part of the AIADMK and only want a change of Chief Minister.”
“As an independent MLA, I want to remove this government,” he declared.
Disqualified MLA Thanga Tamilselvan insisted that the disqualified MLAs continue to insist on the removal of Edappadi K. Palaniswami as Chief Minister. He added that the judgment had extended the life of the anti-people government by a few months.
“The people were looking forward to this judgment just like they were looking forward to the R.K. Nagar by-election results. They are beginning to question the court’s actions,” said Mr. Dhinakaran.
‘Agaist the Constitution’
Mr. Dhinakaran said that ultimately the people were the losers in this case. “It is against the Indian Constitution. The Chief Justice had earlier said that judicial review is allowed in the case of the Speaker’s actions. The MLAs gave a letter demanding a change in Chief Minister. In the Yeddyurappa case in the Supreme Court, the verdict is very clear. The people have lost in this case. Wherever I go, people request me to remove this government,” he added.
He said that farmers, weavers, students, the poor, workers, even government workers had been affected by the State government. “Even businessmen keep saying that they are unable to do business,” he added.