DMK challenges Palaniswami’s Trust Vote in HC, calls it a ‘nullity’

A Madras High Court bench has agreed to hear a petition filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), challenging the trust vote, in court tomorrow. The petition, according to the DMK, claims that the trust vote held in the assembly on February 18th is a nullity.

 

The assembly on Saturday, saw two adjournments following disruption of proceeding by the Opposition and members of the O Panneerselvam faction. The speaker was reportedly malhandled, following which the 88 DMK MLAs present in the session, were evicted. Edappadi Palanisamy then emerged victorious and retained his position as Chief Minister in the trust vote that followed.

 

The DMK is now contesting the legality of the motion and eviction of its members from the assembly."The vote of confidence held in the Assembly on Saturday is a nullity because the resolution was introduced twice," said DMK spokesperson and lawyer Saravanan. "In addition to this DMK leaders were illegally evicted from the Assembly."

 

The move comes shortly after the DMK announced a hunger strike on February 22, 2017. All district offices in the state will protest against the Assembly proceedings that allowed Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami to win the the confidence vote.

 

DMK working president MK Stalin, has already, in his representation to Governor C.Vidyasagar Rao, requested that he invoke his constitutional powers and "nullify the entire proceedings with a view to protect the spirit of democracy and the Constitution."

 

Senior advocate Shanmugasundaram will be representing the DMK, while a bench consisting of Justice Ramesh and Justice Mahadevan will be hearing the petition. DMK leaders, who were evicted from the assembly had claimed that they were malhandled and went on to protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Marina beach. They were later detained by the police.