Against the backdrop of the ongoing transport workers’ strike, the DMK’s opposition to the review meetings conducted by the Governor and the relief operations in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi, to name a few, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session is set to commence on Monday with the customary Governor’s address at Fort St. George.
This would be the first time that Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who assumed office last October, would be addressing the House. As per tradition, Speaker P. Dhanapal called on the Governor last week and invited him to address the House at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Incidentally, the DMK, the principal opposition party, has boycotted the customary Governor’s address for the past three years, citing various issues.
DMK working president and Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin has been quite vocal about his party’s opposition to Mr. Purohit’s meetings with State officials, contending that such actions are not in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution.
Unconvinced by the statements issued by the Raj Bhavan justifying the actions of the Governor, the DMK has resorted to black flag demonstrations against Mr. Purohit in recent days.
Meanwhile, the entry into the Assembly of T.T.V. Dhinakaran, the dissident AIADMK leader and newly-elected MLA of Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar, is likely to raise some interest.
Besides, O. Panneerselvam, the Deputy Chief Minister, would also be donning the cap of the Leader of the House.
At least 18 seats will be vacant in the House, due to the disqualification of as many AIADMK MLAs by the Speaker, following their withdrawal of support to Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
The AIADMK, the DMK and the Congress have held meetings with their respective legislators to discuss the issues to be raised during the Assembly session.
DMK president M. Karunanidhi may remain absent on account of his health issues.
