The two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar of the Madras High Court delivered a split verdict in the  disqualifications of the 18 rebel AIADMK MLAs.

Justice Banerjee upheld the disqualification, while Justice Sundar opposed the disqualification.

The matter has now been referred to a third judge, and this three judge bench will now hear the matter. There is no timeline mentioned on when the matter will be heard.

So for now, the High Court had put the floor test on hold and directed that the 18 seats be kept vacant until its decision. There is now no threat to the government as the effective strength of the house would come down to 215.

The 18 AIADMK lawmakers were disqualified in September last year, for writing to then Governor C Vidyasagar Rao withdrawing support to Palaniswami and asking for his replacement. They had made it clear they were not withdrawing support to the AIADMK government.  

Recently, three more lawmakers extended their support to the rebel camp led by VK Sasikala's nephew TTV Dhinakaran, bringing down the AIADMK's numbers to 113 - four short of a majority - should there be a trust vote. The opposition DMK has 89 and Mr Dhinakaran is the lone Independent legislator.