CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Assembly could witness fireworks on Wednesday, when it reconvenes to debate the demands for grants for various departments, as the DMK and the rebel AIADMK group led by former chief minister O Panneerselvam are gearing up to corner it over a host of issues.
The major issues that may generate heat include the recent slash in the guideline value and hike in cost of registration of land, the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test or NEET for medical education, drought and waiver of crop loans.
The alleged pay-offs to legislators before the crucial confidence voting in the Assembly on February 18 as claimed by television news channels in a sting operation is also likely to figure in the Assembly, sources said.
The DMK advanced its MLAs meeting to Tuesday, a day ahead of the actual schedule, to discuss its floor strategy. Working president M K Stalin briefed the legislators on the issues the party intends to raise in the House.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, former minister K Ponmudi said, “We are going to raise people’s issues, particularly farmers woes, drought and water shortage in the Assembly.” The DMK may hammer the pay-offs issue as well.
It remains to be seen how the Treasury Benches react to the attacks. “Surely, we will reflect the issues concerning the people of the State,” said a senior of the OPS group, which has 12 members in the House.
The Treasury benches may rely on the humorous Finance Minister D Jayakumar, the articulate Minister for Electricity P Thangamani and the unstoppable Minister for Municipal Administration S P Velumani, to take the sting off the opposition attack.