Low-key fete in city over verdict

Madurai: With local ministers Sellur K Raju and R B Udayakumar out of station, Madurai witnessed low-key celebrations at the AIADMK offices following the verdict in the 18 MLAs disqualification case on Thursday.

Most party activists sat glued to the television sets as soon as the news filtered in that the verdict would be delivered on Thursday. In the absence of Sellur Raju, who is touring the US, and Udayakumar who is in Chennai. AIADMK activists and Madurai North MLA, V V Rajan Chellappa, distributed sweets at many places to celebrate the event. ``We were told not to burst fireworks as there are restrictions on the timings,” said an AIADMK cadre at the Madurai urban district office.

Meanwhile, disqualified MLA, Thanga Tamilselvan, said at Sivaganga that it was a relief that the verdict had been passed after 420 days. He said that they had not voted against the government and they could not be punished under the anti-defection law. “We only met the governor and made a representation to change the chief minister and we were disqualified for it,’’ he said.