Chennai: Speaker J C D Prabhakar on Thursday completed the final round of inquiries on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s petition seeking the disqualification of four former MLAs who quit the party and joined the TVK.The petition pertained to the disqualification of former AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam), P Sathyabama (Dharapuram), S Jayakumar (Perundurai) and Isakki Subbaiah (Ambasamudram). Former AIADMK ministers Agri Krishnamoorthy, Thalavai N Sundaram and Rajya Sabha MP Inbadurai reiterated their demand for disqualification of the four MLAs. They said Palaniswami’s personal appearance was not necessary for inquiry and that the party whip had submitted all relevant documents on behalf of the general secretary, they said.However, TVK rejected the claim. “No whip was formally issued to the four MLAs to vote in a particular manner during the confidence motion. AIADMK had not submitted any evidence or documents to establish that a whip was issued,” said TVK advocate Surya Prakasam, who appeared for the MLAs. He added that Palaniswami had not appeared before the speaker in person or submitted any documents. He said the speaker should dismiss the petition and deliver his final order within the deadline set by the court.With arguments from both sides concluded, the speaker is expected to deliver his order within the court-mandated timeframe.
