In the wake of the Madras High Court’s verdict upholding the disqualification of the 18 MLAs owing allegiance to him, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Saturday claimed that the voters wanted them to contest the byelections.

“Most of the 18 [disqualified] MLAs have gone to their constituencies and spoken to the people. The public want us to go for elections, which is also my opinion. A few [disqualified] MLAs are yet to return. There is also the question of justice for the 18 [former] MLAs. But we will arrive at a decision by October 31 or November 1,” Mr. Dhinakaran told mediapersons.

His remarks stood in sharp contrast to his statement earlier in the day, in which he said the disqualified MLAs were in a dilemma over whether or not to appeal against the Madras High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court.

Addressing mediapersons in Kalayarkoil earlier in the day, Mr. Dhinakaran had said that he had on Friday asked the disqualified MLAs to announce that they will be going for an appeal in the Supreme Court just to “test the waters”, but that a final decision had not been taken.

The party was also contemplating “an action” which would “shock the enemies” and “blacken the faces” of those who believed that there would be no more hurdles for the continuation of the government (after the Madras High Court order), he had said.

“Though the former legislators wanted to challenge their disqualification and “prove their innocence”, the party wanted to ensure that the decision [to appeal] did not come in the way of facing the by-elections, Mr. Dhinakaran said. “We are very keen on ensuring that the decision to go for an appeal does not favour the ruling party. We will take a final call on whether or not to appeal against the verdict in a couple of days,” Mr. Dhinakaran had said.

The party was open to electoral alliances with like-minded outfits, the AMMK leader said, and made it clear that it will field the disqualified MLAs in all the 18 seats. He would consult jailed party general secretary V.K. Sasikala on this issue while calling on her on November 8 or 9, he added.

TTV supporter held

The Salem city cyber crime police arrested an office-bearer of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam in the early hours of Saturday over a derogatory pictorial depiction of Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar on social media.

The man arrested, Ranganathan, 38, is the party’s rural district unit secretary (IT wing).

Police sources said the objectionable pictures of the Minister were doing the rounds on WhatsApp and Facebook.

The local AIADMK cadre preferred a complaint in this regard with the police.

Investigations revealed that the pictures were uploaded by Mr. Ranganathan.