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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Feb 18, 2017, 11:14 PM IST
The Palaniswami government won the confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Saturday by a comfortable 122-11 margin after high drama and bedlam in the House.
The vote was preceded by eviction of principal opposition DMK and walkout by its allies, which have 98 legislators in the 234-member House, in protest.
Former Chief Minister Panneerselvam could muster only 11 votes, ending the prolonged stalemate triggered by his rebellion and by conviction of AIADMK chief VK Sasikala after being elected the Legislature Party leader.
Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, while appointing Edappadi K Palaniswami as the chief minister after he was propped by Sasikala, had given him 15 days time to prove his majority.
The vote was taken after two adjournments due to pandemonium and charges of attacks by DMK members.
Speaker P Dhanapal and Leader of Opposition MK Stalin said their shirts were torn in the fracas in the House.
(With PTI inputs)
Tamil Nadu: DMK workers protest in Coimbatore over alleged mistreatment meted out to #MKStalin in Assembly; later detained by Police pic.twitter.com/E1RKmzFqUt
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
MK Stalin in a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao said:
- Speaker's agenda to announce CM's success in getting confidence vote in DMK's absence is unconstitutional.
- Request the Governor to restore democratic values and order postponement of Assembly for conducting secret voting on Confidence Motion.
Earlier visuals from Assembly.
Earlier visuals of #floortest: After 122 MLAs in Tamil Nadu Assembly voted in his favour, TN CM E. Palanisami won vote of confidence. pic.twitter.com/AHWUcLLLyl
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
DMK leaders on violence in Assembly:
Earlier visuals from Marina beach.
Earlier visuals of DMK's protest at Chennai's Marina Beach. DMK Working President MK Stalin & other party leaders still in Police detention. pic.twitter.com/5ZALGvo3vk
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
There wr constant threats;abusive language was used. Things would've been diff if secret ballot was done-Pandiarajan (OPS camp)on #floortest pic.twitter.com/GWDSyrqE3B
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Everybody watched how rival faction (#OPS camp) worked against Amma's govt; This day brought forward real Amma supporters: TN CM Palaniswami pic.twitter.com/8iLSyg1yTl
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
O Panneerselvam after floor test in Assembly:
Stalin met Governor before heading to Marina beach.
Chennai: DMK Working President MK Stalin met Governor C.Vidyasagar Rao after #floortest in Tamil Nadu Assembly pic.twitter.com/XH00xT6FOv
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Earlier visuals from Raj Bhavan, where DMK MLAs were protesting against violence in the house.
Chennai: Visuals from outside Raj Bhavan where DMK workers are protesting alleging that party MLAs were forcefully evicted from #TNAssembly. pic.twitter.com/NpqiCvnYni
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
CM Palaniswami pays tribute at #JayalalithaaMemorial after winning #floortest in Tamil Nadu Assembly pic.twitter.com/YCYerLLPmW
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
"For three hours, DMK MLAs kept on repeating their request to save democracy. Now in absence of all of us, vote was passed. We doubt its validity," says Panneerselvam.
Panneerselvam said his camp put forward two demands before the Speaker. "One was to send MLAs to their constituencies, but Speaker didn't agree to them," he says.
OPS supporter and MLA Pandiarajan says, "There were constant threats, abusive language was used. Things would have been different if secret ballot was done."
After vote, Panneerselvam says, "Once we go back to our constituencies will get to know the truth, the voters have been betrayed by MLAs. We have time to prove this, at the end only dharma will win. If need be will meet the Governor."
122 MLAs voted in favour of the chief minister.
Stable Amma Govt.established in TN.#TNSaved
— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) February 18, 2017
Voting complete in all six blocks. Chief Minister Palaniswami wins vote.
Voting begins in block 2 of the assembly.
Congress stages walkout.
Scuffle between DMK MLAs and Marshals inside TN Assembly #floortest (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/RPtl5jYi1n
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Speaker says, "Even though I was manhandled and my shirt was torn, I reconvened house. The house will function only according to rules."
Stalin adds, "We were told that assembly will reconvene at 3 pm, but at 2 pm police came and tried to forcefully evict us. My shirt is also torn."
The DMK Working President says they will meet the Governor to apprise him of the situation in the assembly.
"Speaker tore off his shirt himself and blamed MLAs of DMK. We reiterate our demand for a secret ballot," says MK Stalin.
DMK MLA TM Anbarasan says, "The Police have entered the assembly and are not letting it function."
Assembly adjourned till 3 pm.
Earlier visuals of broken tables and torn pieces of paper near Speaker's chair #floortest pic.twitter.com/dGcF0HMRok
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
DMK MLAs are going to sit in dharna inside the assembly premises.
DMK MLAs protest in assembly demanding secret ballot, tear and throw paper #floortest (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/oxhOKVH2tu
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Speaker P Dhanapal says, "You (DMK MLAs) tore my shirt and insulted me. I am doing my work and abiding by law."
The Speaker orders police to evict DMK MLAs from the assembly.
#WATCH DMK MLAs scuffle with TN Assembly speaker, protesting DMK MLA Ku Ka Selvam sat on speaker chair #floortest (Jaya TV) pic.twitter.com/CkMQY9FfQx
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Assembly proceedings begin again.
BJP's Subramanian Swamy says, "DMK is a violent and anti-national party. Whatever she is, Sasikala is much better than DMK."
Congress' Kapil Sibal comments, "It's unfortunate that such incidents took place in the Tamil Nadu assembly. Whatever speaker decides should be accepted by all."
An injured official is being taken to hospital from the Secretariat.
While assembly proceedings have been temporarily halted following the huge uproar, an ambulance has been brought in.
Meeting underway between Palaniswami and senior ministers.
The Speaker left the house following the ruckus. DMK MLA Ku Ka Selvam sat in the Speaker's chair in protest.
Assembly adjourned till 1 pm.
Police move towards Assembly premises after huge uproar inside by DMK and other parties demanding secret ballot #floortest pic.twitter.com/l1l1VCpzBn
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
DMK MLAs tear paper and throw chairs, demanding secret ballot. The table in front of the Speaker's chair has been broken. Microphones have been thrown
DMK MLAs have gheraoed Assembly Speaker Dhanapal, demanding secret ballot. DMK MLA Poongothai Aladi Aruna climbed on a bench to raise slogans for secret ballot.
"MLAs should be given time to meet people and know their views," says MLA R Natarajan of OPS camp.
Indian Union Muslim League too demands secret ballot.
Audio speaker kept in Tamil Nadu assembly press room (allocated for accredited reporters and cameraman) has been disconnected. #floortest pic.twitter.com/hvo2v5ilC7
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Speaker rejects all requests and says, "Nobody can interfere in my decision on how to vote."
Now Congress demands secret ballot.
"Everyone knows that MLAs were kept in Kuvathur," says Panneerselvam, "MLAs should be given time to hear the views of their constituency people, till then time should be given."
Panneerselvam calls for secret ballot saying, "People's voice should be heard and then only the floor test should be done in the assembly."
"Democracy will be fulfilled only when secret ballot voting is done," says Stalin.
The Speaker has reportedly rejected Stalin's request.
Addressing the assembly, Stalin says, "Floor test should be done on another day. Why the hurry when the Governor has given 15 days time?"
The Speaker has rejected demands for a secret ballot.
According to News 18, the first batch of 38 MLAs has voted in favour of Palaniswami. The count of votes is reportedly taking place in six blocks.
All doors shut in the assembly premises.
Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal assures that the MLAs will be given adequate security.
AIADMK MLAs from Panneerselvam's camp are raising slogans demanding a secret ballot.
AIADMK Presidium Chairman Madhusudanan from the OPS camp has appointed S Semmalai as chief whip in assembly.
MLAs are being brought to the Secretariat like prisoners: MK Stalin (file pic) pic.twitter.com/MOrvs6UXwq
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
While DMK is raising slogans in the assembly supporting Panneerselvam, AIADMK MLAs from his camp are raising slogans against DMK, reports ANI.
CM Palaniswami has moved a motion for the vote of confidence in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
BV Acharya, the special public prosecutor in the disproportionate assets case in which Sasikala was convicted, told ANI, "I strongly appeal, atleast Speaker should permit secret ballot. To some extent, MLAs will be free to exercise their franchise. You can't say it is a vote exercised by them (MLAs who stayed in resort) out of their free will. They're not given opportunity, huddled together in a resort with other MLAs. Where is the chance of any free-thinking deliberation?"
He also added, "The Governor should have brought in President's rule for at least 2-3 months so that normalcy prevails and MLAs are free, not under threat."
DMK'sStalin walked to the state assembly in protest alleging his car was searched at the entrance
Congress to vote against the confidence motion in Tamil Nadu assembly's special session today #FloorTest pic.twitter.com/dIyhUuZFwN
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Congress MLAs reach Tamil Nadu assembly ahead of the #floortest pic.twitter.com/rqAijbTkRK
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Visuals from #TamilNadu assembly's entrance, #floortest to take place today at the special session pic.twitter.com/yuEF8wXU72
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
DMK Working President MK Stalin has left for the assembly to attend the special session.
Former state minister and a supporter of Panneerselvam, M Pandiarajan tells ANI, "We don't think we are in single digits. We believe 135 people should vote for us."
"Amma's legacy rests on the able shoulders of OPS, this will be driving force to vote, not temporary confinement or brainwashing," he added.
#TamilNadu: Barricading, Heavy police deployment outside TN secretariat ahead of floor test. pic.twitter.com/tytdpOBmC0
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
As AIADMK MLAs leave Golden Bay resort in Kuvathur, one of them tells ANI, "We have to safeguard our party, symbol and the Government. Will work with Chinamma."
MLA Thoppu ND Venkatachalam tells ANI, "Whip issued for all party MLAs, we will vote accordingly."
AIADMK party MLAs leaving Kuvathur's Golden Bay resort, will attend special session of the Tamil Nadu assembly #FloorTest pic.twitter.com/R8myWTH8BZ
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
AIADMK Party MLAs leaving Kuvathur's Golden Bay resort say "we will win, heading to the assembly" #TamilNadu #FloorTest pic.twitter.com/JBeJRPblpG
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 18, 2017
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin on Friday said they would oppose Palanisami in the assembly floor test.
"If he (Edappadi K Palanisamy) seeks vote of confidence tomorrow, we will oppose him in the assembly. Our 89 MLAs will vote against him," Stalin told media.
The Palaniswami camp got a jolt on Friday when one of its MLAs R Natraj, a former state DGP, said he would vote against the chief minister's motion of confidence.
Natraj's move reduced Palaniswami's stated support to 123 members in a House of 234.
Though Panneerselvam now has the backing of 11 MLAs, experts feel he can jolt the government if he is able to wean away a few legislators from the Palaniswami camp and render it a minority government.
Panneerselvam on Friday appealed to AIADMK MLAs to vote against party's general secretary Sasikala's loyalist Edappadi K Palaniswami. "Please vote against the trust vote and safeguard the interests of Amma," Panneerselvam appealed through media.
"I reiterate to AIADMK MLAs, please think wisely before casting your vote tomorrow. Don't buckle under pressure," he added.
A revolt by Panneerselvam against Sasikala resulted in a political stalemate with AIADMK supporters divided between the two camps. In an intra-party power struggle, Panneerselvam had rebelled against Sasikala on February 7, alleging he was forced to step down to make way for her becoming Chief Minister. She had been elected the AIADMK Legislature Party leader on February 5.
But the Governor had apparently chosen to await the outcome of the Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case, in which Sasikala has been convicted and is serving prison term in Bengaluru.
Incidentally, it was a succession row that triggered a faction war in AIADMK that had prompted a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in January 1988, when Janaki, widow of M G Ramachandran, succeeded him in the midst of a bitter rivalry involving Jayalalithaa.
