Chennai: Even as there is talk of disqualifying MLA Karunas under the anti-defection law, the Mukkulathor Puli Padai founder today gave notice to the Tamilnadu Assembly Secretary for moving a resolution in the State Assembly for removal of Speaker P Dhanapal using Article 179(c).
In a letter to the Secretary, the MLA said, “I invoke Rule 68 of Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly Rules under Article 179(c) of the Indian Constitution for the removal of P Dhanapal from the office of Speaker. I am intending to move the resolution by giving 14 days’ notice.”
He further stated that a copy of the letter is marked to Dhanapal as well.
Yesterday, it was said the Speaker was likely to send notices to the controversial MLA and three other legislators under the anti-defection law. According to sources, the decision was made after hectic discussions were held in the Speaker’s chamber that saw participation from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam.
With derogatory remarks falling on the government from an incumbent member of the legislative Assembly, the Speaker is said to have received a letter from party chief whip for action to be taken against Karunas for speaking against the government and the Chief Minister.
Though Karunas floated his own caste outfit just before the 2016 elections, he contested the polls in the two leaves symbol of the AIADMK and won from Tiruvadanai. But he turned a caustic critic of the Chief Minister and the police at a protest meet in Chennai recently. He was arrested and lodged in Vellore prison for this and was let out on conditional bail.
Today, when the Tirunelveli police arrived to arrest him in connection with two cases, they found that he had got himself admitted to a private hospital in Vadapalani, complaining of chest pain.
His advocates have sent medical records to the Nungambakkam police station about his hospitalisation as, according to his bail conditions, he has to sign there every day and the station at Triplicane.