Leader of Opposition and DMK Working President MK Stalin was detained by the police here on Wednesday, along with his party MLAs, for staging a road roko outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. The MLAs took to protest after their attempts to raise the issue of horse trading of legislators by the ruling AIADMK ahead of the February 18 trust vote led to their eviction from the Assembly.

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Soon after the Question Hour on the opening day of the session, Stalin sought to raise the issue of the sting operation in which two MLAs of the rival factions of the ruling AIADMK claimed that money and gold were offered to support the VK Sasikala camp in the run-up to the trust vote.

They also sought to move a special call attention motion on the issue and urged Speaker P Dhanapal to take up the matter. However, the Speaker refused permission, citing that the matter was sub judice, resulting in noisy scenes. But the DMK members continued to obstruct the proceedings for more than 45 minutes and failed to heed to the Speaker's repeated warning that he would initiate action against them.

The unrelenting DMK members, waving currency notes and white papers with the slogan 'MLAs for sale', insisted on a debate. Speaker ordered marshals to evict the DMK legislators. Soon eight Congress MLAs and lone IUML member staged a walkout in protest against the eviction.

The evicted DMK legislators led by Stalin sat on the Rajaji Salai opposite to the Secretariat blocking the traffic and shouting slogans. Speaking to reporters, Stalin sought the dismissal of the AIADMK government. "We want a CBI inquiry into the case. I had planned to raise these issues after the Question Hour. But I was not allowed to speak," he said, condemning the Speaker's action.

Following Stalin's detention, DMK cadre staged protests in several parts of the state. Stalin said he would again raise the issue in the Assembly on Thursday.