CHENNAI: The uneasy peace between the opposition and the treasury benches – and the Chair – that prevailed in the State Assembly finally gave way to pandemonium, eviction and eventual suspension of DMK MLAs on Wednesday.
In the first eviction since the 15th Assembly was constituted, 80 of the MLAs were evicted following Speaker P Dhanapal’s order. Soon afterwards, Leader of the House O Panneerselvam moved a resolution calling for suspension, which was adopted by voice vote. Only 9 absentee MLAs, including DMK president M Karunanidhi, have been spared.
Curiously, the situation is reminiscent of one from a decade ago, when all AIADMK MLAs, then in opposition, were suspended. CM Jayalalithaa – then the Opposition Leader – was the only member to be spared as she was absent on the day; she attended the next day as the lone AIADMK member.
With this history, M K Stalin was asked if Karunanidhi would attend the proceedings on Thursday, but he did not respond. He alleged that it was pre-planned to prevent them from taking part in the home department discussion. Later, the DMK convened an MLAs’ meeting, which resolved to organise meetings across the State, which would culminate in a public meeting in Chennai on Monday – the day the House is scheduled to discuss the home department’s demands.