Peak anxiety in House before verdict in legislators’ case

Though it was business as usual with the demand for grants to health being taken up, the Opposition benches were empty following a walkout by the principal opposition DMK.

The walkout by the DMK, announced by Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin on the floor of the House, occurred exactly at a time when the delivery of judgment was expected by 1.15 pm.

The DMK’s walkout was over expunging remarks of one of its members by Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman. After an exchange of words with Jayaraman and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on the issue, Stalin said his party was walking out. After the Opposition members walked out, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Panneerselvam, some Ministers and several members of the ruling party too were not present in the House for some time. Most seats in the press gallery too were empty.

Congress MLA H Vasanthakumar walked into an overcrowded press room in the Assembly complex to view television news bulletins on the disqualification case.

Similarly, members could also be seen checking their mobile phones on the outer corridor of the Assembly for updates on the case.

After the pronouncement of the split verdict, DMK leaders Stalin and Duraimurugan came back to the Assembly and were present for a while.

Also, Chief Minister Palaniswami, his deputy Panneerselvam and other ruling party members too resumed their seats and were present through the business hours. Following the debate on demand for grants to Health and Family Welfare departments, Minister C Vijaya Baskar wound up the discussion with his reply.

The Assembly will resume its sitting on June 25 after a recess of 10 days.

The MHC on Thursday gave a split verdict on petitions challenging disqualification of 18 MLAs loyal to sidelined party leader TTV Dhinakaran.