Tamil Nadu: AIADMK stages walkout from assembly after rift with speaker

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: High drama unfolded in the Tamil Nadu assembly after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs walked out from the assembly over their demand to recognise RB Udhayakumar as Deputy LoP and the allotment of the seat for him in place of O Pannerselvam in the House.

Leader of Opposition Edappadi Palaniswami raised the seating arrangement issue in the assembly after which the speaker M Appavu ordered the security personnel to evict the AIADMK MLAs who were protesting inside the assembly.

Edappadi Palaniswami requested the speaker to allow R B Udhyakumar to sit near him in the place of O Pannerselvam. When Palaniswami cited the Division Bench verdict where it was said the expulsion of O Pannerselvam and the other two was valid, the OPS camp intervened which led to chaos in the assembly.

Palaniswami while speaking in the assembly said, “When we are talking about seating arrangements, only a deputy leader of the opposition can sit near the president. That’s how this has been happening for the history of this assembly.

Congress has 18 MLAs you can see how their leaders are sitting next to each other but why are you refusing to do this to us? The division bench has given a very clear judgement. We have submitted it. In the verdict of division, it has said the expulsion of 3 (OPS and others) is valid. You can reduce our count from 66. The assembly needs to follow this.”

The LoP also said that they are asking for their rights only and the traditions should not be changed anytime.

Meanwhile, speaker M. Appavu said, “In the assembly, no one has the right to speak about seating arrangements but me. It is my right. I am doing this according to law and norms.

All 3 (O Pannerselvam and his supporters) won elections in two-leaf symbol only. I have accepted Udhayakumar as the Deputy Leader of Opposition according to your suggestion but the seating arrangement you have raised, I will consider.”

AIADMK MLAs who were not happy with Speaker Appavu protested inside the assembly. Later Speaker Appavu ordered security personnel to evict the AIADMK MLAs then AIADMK MLAs walked out from the assembly and raised slogans against the speaker at the entrance of the assembly.

Chief Minister MK Stalin in the assembly spoke on the Trichy girl alleged abuse case and said “In Trichy Mukkombu Police officials Sasikumar, Shankar Rajapandiyan, left duty without informing higher officials along with Police Officer Sidharthan who was not on duty.

Then they took the girl in the car and assaulted her. Four accused police officers were arrested and suspended in the incident. It is untrue that no action was taken in the incident.”

Further, Stalin announced Agricultural College and Research Institute at Echakottai will now be known as ‘Dr M S Swaminathan Agricultural College and Research Institute’, as a tribute to M S Swaminathan.

“Similarly, in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University students whoever gets top marks in Proliferation of young agricultural crops and Genetics lessons would be awarded each year in the name of ‘Dr M S Swaminathan,” Stalin said.