Madras High Court to deliver verdict on 18 AIADMK MLAs disqualification case. LIVE Updates here-

Update at 12.25 pm:  The party is fully prepared and ready to fight in by-polls now after the Madras High Court verdict and we know we will emerge victorious: MK Stalin, DMK Chief

Update at 12.21 pm:  I don't want to comment on internal politics going on in AIADMK. This verdict will affect the people of Tamil Nadu as 18 MLAs have been disqualified: MK Stalin

Update at 12.16 pm: Amma's soul is with us and hence verdict came in our favour. We will emerge victorious in these 18 constituencies. We are carrying forward J Jayalalithaa's legacy: EPS, Tamil Nadu CM

Update at 12.13 pm: We are happy with the verdict. Blessing of Amma and MGR are with us: EPS, Tamil Nadu CM on verdict on disqualified MLAs

Update at 10.49 am: I might go to meet the disqualified MLAs today evening: TTV Dhinakaran

Update at 10.48 am: We will also win the elections if the polls are conducted at these constituencies. RK Nagar can be one example on how people are supporting me and they know who are betrayers: TTV Dhinakaran

Update at 10.45 am:  Judge while pronouncing the verdict: By-elections can happen at these constituencies, they can be announced as vacant

Update at 10.45 am: OPS and EPS are betrayers, they can't call me betrayers. We'll decide regarding the appeal or to contest in the election after meetings:TTV Dhinakaran

Update at 10.42 am: I didn't say that we'll not go for an appeal. It's one of the MLAs who told this & I will look for more options.The MLAs were not forced to go for the resort & they went on their own:TTV Dhinakaran

Update at 10.42 am: We were expecting a good decision from the court. We'll discuss with the 18 MLAs and then will decide the next course of action. We respect the decision as it is given by the court: TTV Dhinakaran on the verdict

Update at 10.33 am: Madras High Court upholds disqualification of 18 MLAs

Update at 10.28 am: Madras High Court premises are under CISF control 

Update at 10.26 am: Heavy posse of CISF personnel posted outside Court Hall Number 6 of Madras HC from where Justice M. Sathyanarayanan would be delivering the verdict in the 18 MLAs case

The Madras High Court is expected to deliver its verdict on the disqualification of 18 MLAs of TTV Dhinakaran faction on Thursday. The 3rd bench verdict will be pronounced by justice Sathyanarayan at 10.30 am. If the disqualification of MLAs is struck down then the Tamil Nadu government may not survive a floor test.

Earlier in September 2017, all the 18 MLAs revolted against Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K. Palaniswami and were subsequently disqualified by the speaker Dhanapal.The MLAs moved the High Court challenging their disqualification. In April this year, the court delivered a split verdict. Thursday's verdict is a make or break verdict as it could have massive impact on future of Tamil Nadu government.

ARITHMETICS OF TAMILNADU ASSEMBLY:

Total Strength of house: 234

After the demise of Karunanidhi (Thiruvarur MLA) and A K Bose (Thiruparankundram MLA) - its current total strength is 232.

Speaker : 1 (He will only vote when it’s a tie)

DMK: 88 (Without Karunanidhi)

Congress: 8

Muslim league : 1

Disqualified MLAs: 18

Independent MLA: 1 (TTV Dhinakaran)

Sitting MLAs Supporting TTV Dhinakaran: 5 (Thammeemun Ansari, Kalaichelvan, Prabhu, Rathinasabapathy, Karunas)

AIADMK: 110

If 231 (excluding speaker) is the house strength - 117 is the magic number

EPS is short of 7 MLAs in case of a floor test.

If the case is in favour of TTV Dinakaran, then OPS and EPS government will fall short in numbers since they'll have only 109 as majority where they need 117.

If the decision of speaker is upheld, then EPS and OPS govt will be intact since the majority needed is 108 and they will enjoy the support of 109.

The first split verdict was pronounced during the month of June 2018 where the Chief Justice of Madras High Court and the second judge gave split verdict and hence the CJ suggested a third bench.

TTV Dinakaran approached supreme court asking it should take up this matter for hearing, stating that the government in Tamil Nadu can influence the court verdict

Hence the Supreme Court appointed the third judge M Sathyanarayanan who is going to pronounce the verdict at 10.30 at court room number 6 of Madras High Court.

The 17 disqualified MLAs who are supporting TTV Dhinakaran are right now at Courtallam resort at Tirunelveli district since they are expecting a favourable verdict.

This verdict will set the political pace of the state for next few days.