Verdict on 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs to be announced today

In a judgment that may have a bearing on the stability of the Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, the Madras High Court on Thursday will pronounce its verdict on 18 AIADMK MLAs who were disqualified ahead of a trust vote in 2017.

The 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs had challenged their disqualification under the anti-defection law and filed a petition in the High Court.

A High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar had reserved its order during its last hearing on January 23.

Though Palaniswami government is confident that there will not be any threat to its survival, the High Court’s order may pose some trouble to the ruling AIADMK government if the disqualification is quashed.

If the confidence vote happens and the disqualification of 18 MLAs is quashed, they still would be bound by the Whip and won’t be able to vote against the government.

The ruling AIADMK has a strength of 116 MLAs excluding the Speaker while the Opposition DMK has 89 MLAs, its allies Congress 8 and the IUML one in the 234 member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

(With PTI Inputs)