Confidence Motion: Chairs Flung, Podium Broken In Tamil Nadu Assembly

There was pandemonium in the assembly over procedures and at one stage, the DMK MLAs trooped into the well and tried to mob the speaker. The DMK members flung chairs at the speaker and broke Speaker's podium.

Amid high drama, uproarious scenes and repeated disruptions, Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly on Friday took up vote of confidence in Palanisamy Government. The magic number needed for Palanisamy to prove his majority is 116.

As many as 230 MLAs have attended the key assembly session. While DMK, Congress, Muslim League and the MLAs supporting Paneerselvam demanded a secret ballot. Earlier, the DMK also demanded that the MLAs from Paneerselvam faction be allowed to speak. However, the speaker Dhanpal rejected both the proposals and ordered a division. After the members have voted, Assembly Secretary counted the votes in each of the six divisions.

Paneer Protests

At one stage, Paneerselvam staged a sit-in inside the Assembly demanding that the people's voice be heard. He said the AIADMK MLAs should be allowed to execise their will free from fear, force and coersion. He wanted the AIADMK MLAs to go to their respective constituencies and seek public opinion before voting. DMK leader Stalin wanted the election to be postponed by at least a day. "Why such a tearing hurry to hold the session?" he asked. The speaker rejected the demand. After a 15-minute interruption, the voting resumed.

Why Trust Vote?

The vote of confidence was necessitated after Sasikala loyalist Palanisamy was sworn as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state on February 16. He was asked to prove his majority on the floor of his house within 15 days. But, Palanisamy wanted a vote of confidence immediately on February 18.

Paneerselvam's Last Ditch

Paneerselvam and AIADMK Presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan appointed S Semmalai as party whip prior to the vote of confidence. As per AIADMK party rules and regulations, in the absence of the General Secretary, party functionaries appointed by the previous General Secretary shall perform these functions.

Last Confidence Vote In 1988

Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed a no confidence motion almost after 30 years. The last time a confidence motion was taken up was on January 27, 1988. Both Jayalalitha and Janaki Ramachandran factions clashed in the assembly post MGR death and police had to be called in to bring order. In 2006, DMK did not have a full majority, but the Government survived five years thanks to the outside support from the Congress.