Eighteen MLAs of the ruling AIADMK remained disqualified in Tamil Nadu as the Madras High Court delivered a split verdict. The MLAs were disqualified ahead of a floor test in the state assembly last year where the AIADMK was divided into two as Panneerselvam group and Palaniswamy group.
The chief minister Edappadi Palaniswmay will be a relieved man after the high court's verdict as the rebel lawmakers are loyal to jailed party chief VK Sasikala and her TTV Dhinakaran. Dhinakaran recently won the election from RK Nagar, a seat which fell vacant after the death of party supremo J Jayalalithaa.
If the disqualification of 18 MLAs are cancelled, the government faces a stern test as they already one short of majority – ruling AIADMK has currently 116 MLAS out of the 234-member assembly.
