I was always taught that if a component is not in the MEL then you are AOG if it is broken. The company maintenance will have access to the MMEL which will be more comprehensive but why would what is effectively an electric switch fail on one side? Liquid in that area ? Where else has it gone? Into the sidestick? Back to the gate and look at the empty coffee cup you put in that area when you know that it shouldn’t have been there.