Ruling party gears up to face Opposition in Assembly post police firing

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his Deputy O Panneerselvam chaired the AIADMK Legislature Party meeting where they were learnt to have advised their legislators to behave and not fall prey to the jibes and taunts of the Opposition legislators.

The Opposition had already submitted a Special Calling Attention Motion in the Assembly session. As per the motion, the Opposition would insist that no business of the government be taken up for the day until the Sterlite issue was discussed and necessary resolutions are provided on the same.

While the Opposition would also look to revive the issue of gutkha scam for which the Supreme Court had cleared decks for a CBI probe, it would also attempt to pin the ruling dispensation down on Cauvery dispute wherein the state was accused of having settled for less.

Sources said the government has been bracing up for a stormy session and the decision on permanent closure was one among the many measures in place. “We have been asked for details as early as 1970s sessions and such information would also feature in the speeches made by the Ministers,” said a senior government official.

It is learnt that the state has also been preparing a photo album of Thoothukudi violence as ‘ready reckoner’ for the ministers to go for when Opposition members rebuff the state’s claims. “Though the session is likely to be chaotic as the Opposition has been vociferously voicing their concern over Thoothukudi killings, we are prepared to face them in the Assembly and to counter them with appropriate replies,” said a senior Minister who requested anonymity.

The session is scheduled only to obtain the Assembly’s nod for demand for grants from the budget for various departments. The session starting with the debate on Forest Department will continue till July 9. Besides weekends, there will be a long interlude between June 15 and June 24.

Earlier, while the BAC met on May 24, the DMK and the Congress staged a walk out demanding resignation of CM and DGP for the Thoothukudi failure.