Pandemonium after Jaya-Stalin spat in TN Assembly

When the minister moved the resolution, it was first opposed by KA Ramsamy (Congress) who said the amendment would lead to large scale corruption. Raja (DMK) also spoke on the same vein to which minister Velumani said it would help progress and that most north Indian states followed indirect election of local body chiefs.

When the DMK demanded a voice vote, Speaker P Dhanapal said it was not necessary as the AIADMK were in the majority and hence passed the resolution following which the opposition parties walked out. 

Earlier, the Assembly descended into shouting, catcalling and howling when a spat broke out between Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Opposition leader M.K. Stalin. When Stalin wanted to know whether funds were available for housing for police in 31 districts announced by Jayalalithaa under sec.110 rules in the Assembly in May 2012, Jayalalithaa said the DMK had no locus standi to talk on the issue as they had wound up the police housing corporation. 

“The police housing corporation started by MGR in 1980 was disbanded by Karunanidhi in 1981and it was given a new lease of life only when I returned to power in 1991,” she added. Replying to it Stalin said “if we are not to ask questions, then why did people elect us and send us to the Assembly?” From then on pandemonium prevailed with the Speaker’s repeated entreaties to follow rules and cooperate falling on deaf ears. 

CM Jayalalithaa’s words that “I will explain my statement” did not mollify the opposition.  Following which the finance minister O Paneerselvam called on Dhanapal to take necessary action to lower the high decibel level.

Insisting that all the members of the Assembly were elected to speak out the aspirations of the people in the state, leader of the Opposition, M K Stalin said the Speaker must provide more time to the opposition members too. “Because, ruling and opposition members are two sides of the same coin, whose aim is to resolve people’s issues,” he said. Stalin demanded the speaker to take their request into consideration at least in the next Assembly session. The opposition leader also demanded the government to establish Lokayukta in the state and prevent violation of human rights. “The government should consider reinstating people welfare workers and old pension scheme should be implemented for government employees,” he said. He wanted more civil service exam coaching centers for youngsters in the state. Stalin also questioned about projects like thermal power project and seawater desalination.

In a rare show of unity in the Assembly on Friday, the ruling and opposition members unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa urging the Union government not to grant permission to Kerala and Karnataka governments for any new dam projects.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa moved a resolution in the Assembly on Friday demanding that central government should not grant permission to the Kerala and Karnataka governments for any schemes in the Cauvery basin till various cases pending in courts were settled and the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery River Water Regularisation Committee were formed.  She added that a central water resources ministry letter to the state dated 19/9/13 stated that Kerala was requested to get the willingness of the Cauvery basin states first and then seek permission of Cauvery tribunal. The resolution was accepted unanimously with DMK’s Duraimurugan stating that whatever be the differences between the AIADMK and DMK, there should be unity on this issue as it affected the welfare of the farmers.

With the metro rail carrying out the final phase of trail runs for the section between Chinnamalai to Airport and Alandur to St Thomas Mount, the Chief Minister will inaugurate the major initiative next month, said O. Panneerselvam, Minister for Finance and Personnel and Administrative Reforms in the Assembly on Friday. 

Replying to a question raised by M Karunanidhi, Pallavaram, DMK MLA, the minister said that the second phase of metro rail project for a distance of 104.5 km was underway and soon and the route would be inspected. “Further, metro rail extension works between Vannarapettai and Wimco nagar are in full swing,” the minister said. The DMK MLA also demanded that the metro rail project should be extended up to Pallavaram. Drawing the minister’s attention on water supply, the MLA said, “Metro water to my constituency should also be supplied, as areas like Anakaputhur and Pammal suffer acute water scarcity.” Responding to that, Panneerselvam said that the project to provide Metro water to these areas was in progress and the supply would commence within next year. Meanwhile, Killiyur Congress MLA, S Rajesh Kumar said that his constituency had many issues. “There should be a fire station in our constituency, which lacks basic amenities like drinking water supply and roads,” he said and demanded the minister to look into these issues.