In a setback for rebel AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, the Madras High Court on Thursday upheld the disqualification of 18 AIADMK MLAs who had last year revolted against Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

The judgment came as a major relief for the ruling AIADMK government, which could have faced an existential crisis had the ruling been in favour of the disqualified MLAs.

The 18 seats will now become vacant and require by-elections.

Setback for Dhinakaran

Reacting to the judgment, a visibly disappointed Dhinakaran told reporters he will consider the next course of action after holding discussions with the MLAs. He has two options: appeal against the order in the Supreme Court or face the by-elections for the 18 seats.

AIADMK supporters were jubilant over the verdict.

“Justice prevailed. We are ready to face by-polls for the 18 Assembly constituencies. AIADMK will win all the seats in the by-election,” tweeted Palaniswami.

In his 475-page order, Justice M Sathyanarayanan said: “There is no error apparent on the face of the record and the reasons assigned by the Speaker did not suffer on the grounds of breach of constitutional mandate...and no perversity is attached to the reasons assigned by the Speaker to disqualify the petitioners.”

In August 2017, the 18 MLAs belonging to the faction led by Dhinakaran met the then Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, saying they were withdrawing support to Palaniswami, but not to the AIADMK government. Following this, the Speaker disqualified them under the anti-defection law.

The MLAs appealed their disqualification. On June 14 this year, the First Bench of the Madras High Court gave a split verdict. The Supreme Court then appointed a third judge to hear the case.

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