The DMK has petitioned the High Court of Madras requesting it to disqualify deputy chief-minister O. Pannerselvam and Minister Ma Foi Pandiarajan for voting against the direction of the party whip during the trial of strength in the Assembly in February this year when the AIADMK had split into factions led by OPS and EPS.

Speaker Dhanapal passed an order disqualifying 18 AIADMK MLAs, supporters of jailbird Dinakaran, for not obeying the party whip’s instructions while approaching the Governor to change the chief-minister. The case is still pending with the High Court of Madras which is yet to deliver its final verdict. It may be recalled that OPS faction’s 12 MLAs voted against the EPS-regime in February.

Citing this, DMK’s Assembly Whip Chakrapani has filed a petition with the High Court of Madras wondering if the Speaker could disqualify 18 MLAs for not informing or obeying party whip while meeting the Governor to submit petition, why can’t OPS and 11 other MLAs be disqualified on the same premise of acting against party whip’s instructions during the February trial of strength on the floor of the Assembly.

Another petition filed by DMK MLA Pitchandi has made a similar request to the Court wondering how those who acted against the instructions of the whip could continue as Ministers of the State Cabinet.  He also requested the Court to order disqualification of OPS and Pandiarajan.