In a rare display of graciousness to its arch-rival DMK, Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK dropped a privilege motion that could have seen seven members of the Opposition party suspended for six months.
Acknowledging the consideration, Opposition Leader and DMK Working President MK Stalin thanked Speaker P Dhanapal for recommending that the move be dropped.
DMK members S Ambeth Kumar, KS Masthan, KS Ravichandran, N Suresh Rajan, K Karthikeyan, P Murugan and Ku Ka Selvam faced a six-month suspension following recommendations of the Assembly’s Privilege Committee, which probed incidents in the House on February 18, when a special session was held for Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to prove his majority.
Palaniswami won the trust vote with 122 MLAs voting in his favour in the 234-member Assembly. But prior to the voting, DMK’s 89 MLAs protested, demanding a secret ballot. The members stalled the proceedings by rushing to the well of the House, surrounding the Speaker, pushing down the podium and smashing furniture. The House was adjourned twice and the vote conducted after the DMK members were forcibly evicted.
After the report of the Committee of Privileges was tabled this morning, Leader of the House, KA Sengottaiyan, moved that the report be taken up for consideration. Speaker Dhanapal intervened and requested that Sengottaiyan consider withdrawing the motion. “As one most affected on that day, I make a request,” he said.
All the seven members have apologised for their behaviour in writing and assured there would not be a repeat of such incident. Except Suresh Rajan, the others were first-time legislators, and all could be let off with a warning, he felt.
Subsequently, Sengottaiyan acceded to the Speaker’s request.