National   

MDMK to issue whip

New Delhi: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko on Friday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee about the party’s decision to issue a whip to its four MPs to vote against the confidence motion to be moved by the Manmohan Singh government.

Mr. Vaiko said he had authorised C. Krishnan, MP, to issue a three-line whip to the other members — A. Ravichandran and dissidents L. Ganesan and Gingee N. Ramachandran.

Asked whether the party would seek disqualification of the rebels if they defied the whip, he said: “It will be decided after the voting takes place.”

In his letter submitted at the Speaker’s office, Mr. Vaiko said Mr. Ramachandran raised a dispute before the Election Commission, claiming himself to be the party general secretary. But the Commission, in its order dated May 30, held that the group led by Mr. Vaiko was the real MDMK, and was entitled to use the reserved symbol ‘top’.

“According to the order passed by the Commission, I am the general secretary who has been empowered to take decisions in all matters and functioning of the party according to the constitution of the MDMK.”

Mr. Vaiko said that according to the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, “the directive given by a political party has to be carried out by the members elected on the party ticket and defiance would attract disqualification. Even abstention from voting against the party directive could lead to disqualification.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

India makes foray into Nepal’s power sector
Sikhs, Dera supporters clash
MDMK to issue whip
Annexure-less IT returns
42 injured in grenade blast
Chakraborty apologises for dissenting in public
PIL: elementary education discriminatory
“Ready to face challenges of militancy in J&K”
Working towards creating an educated society
PGI to offer telemedicine in subcontinent
Cyber cafes under watch
Special police force leaves Manipur village vulnerable
2 BDR men killed in firing
Mamata Banerjee is non-committal
BJP wins 3 seats

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu