Chennai, 26 July (H.S.):

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar has scheduled another round of hearings in the anti-defection case involving four former AIADMK legislators, directing them and AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) to appear before him on July 30.

The latest hearing comes as the Speaker continues to examine the disqualification petition filed by the AIADMK leadership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The proceedings are aimed at seeking further clarification from both the petitioner and the former legislators before a decision is taken.

As per a communication issued by the Assembly Secretariat, former MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthagam), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram), S. Jeyakumar (Perundurai) and Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram) have been asked to appear individually between 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on July 30. Each has been allotted a 30-minute slot, while Palaniswami has also been directed to remain present during the proceedings.

The case originates from the confidence motion held after the C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government assumed office. During the trust vote, 25 AIADMK legislators voted in favour of the new government despite a party whip directing them to oppose the motion.

Although Palaniswami subsequently decided to pardon 21 of the legislators who defied the whip, the party continued the disqualification proceedings against Maragatham Kumaravel, P. Sathyabama, S. Jeyakumar and Esakki Subaya after they resigned from the Assembly and later joined the ruling TVK.

The four former legislators have already appeared before the Speaker twice, during which they submitted oral and written explanations defending their decision to vote against the party whip. Following those hearings, the Speaker sought additional clarification from Palaniswami regarding issues raised in their submissions. The AIADMK leadership later filed its written response through the Assembly Secretariat.

The July 30 hearing is expected to focus on examining the explanations presented by both sides before the Speaker decides the next course of action. The outcome is likely to have significant political and legal ramifications for both the AIADMK and the ruling TVK government, making the proceedings one of the most closely watched political developments in the State.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman