Cash for vote MLA sting: DMK members evicted from Tamil Nadu assembly; MK Stalin, other leaders detained

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin and several other party leaders were detained after a ruckus was created over the MLAs sting operation in Tamil Nadu Assembly session on Wednesday.

"This Tamil Nadu government headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami should be dissolved," said Stalin.

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Assembly saw a huge showdown between the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over the MLAs sting operation.

Speaker P. Dhanapal refused to discuss the issue on the floor of the house as it was subjudice. He further said the issue cannot be discussed also because there was no major proof to substantiate it as it only came out in the media.

Following this, the DMK MLAs showed pamphlets written 'MLAs for sale" over them as a mark of protest against the Speaker's assertions.

The Assembly came to a stalemate following which the policemen tried to take the protesting DMK MLAs out of the Assembly.

A sting operation by an English news channel had revealed that all the AIADMK MLAs were lured in by cash and gold by the rival Sasikala camp to support Chief Minister Edapadi K. Palanisamy in the February trust vote conducted in Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Palanisamy won the trust vote held in the state assembly on the back of support offered by 122 AIADMK legislators.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) severely criticised the ruling AIADMK government over the matter alleging that the party's inter-relationship was purchased and not natural.

(With agency inputs)