: A question about schemes implemented in Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s constituency of R.K. Nagar by a DMK MLA led to a sharp exchange of words between Leader of the Opposition M.K. Stalin and Leader of the House O. Panneerselvam in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday.
S. Sudarsanam, DMK MLA from Madhavaram, was raising issues about his constituency when he decided to speak about various issues faced by the residents of R.K. Nagar constituency, which is represented by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He started quoting various instances and statistics about the VIP constituency when AIADMK ministers intervened, asking him to confine his speech to issues in his constituency.
When Mr. Sudarsanam continued speaking about R.K. Nagar, Mr. Panneerselvam sprung to his feet and questioned the DMK MLA and made a remark. “You are repeatedly talking about R.K. Nagar. Speak about your constituency,” he added.
Protesting the “remark”, some DMK members began rushing towards the front benches and the AIADMK MLAs too rose to their feet and exchanged heated words with the opposition members.
Mr. Stalin immediately rose and protested against the remark and used the same remark targeting the Finance Minister. The Speaker immediately expunged the remark made by Mr. Stalin.
The Finance minister replied, “The member should talk about his constituency. He should not talk about R.K. Nagar just to cause unnecessary disruption.” The melee continued for sometime prompting Mr. Panneerselvam to ask, “Do we need this type a discussion? This is an unwanted issue,” to which Mr. Stalin said “We are also asking the same thing” and said it was Mr. Panneerselvam who started it.
The Leader of the House once again asked what was the need for the MLA to talk about R.K. Nagar? To this, Mr. Stalin retorted, “The MLA has all rights to ask about R.K. Nagar as more than 55,000 people voted for us (DMK) in the constituency. He is raising people’s issues there,” Mr. Stalin said.
Following this, the Speaker, P. Dhanapal, intervened and asked MLAs on both sides to behave. He said this was becoming a problem everyday. “I am being neutral. I am balancing views on both sides,” Mr. Dhanapal said. Mr. Panneerselvam added that if any member wanted to speak, he should seek the permission of the Chair first. “You people are always disrupting everyone. You are always speaking,” he said targeting the DMK.
When the DMK’s Deputy Floor Leader Duraimurugan protested, the Speaker expunged it and said he will not allow anyone to censure him (Speaker). “It is my duty to point out when things go wrong. I want to put a full stop to this (disruptions) today before continuing with the business of the House,” the Speaker said.
Mr. Stalin retorted saying that he had given his word that the party MLAs would co-operate with the proceedings of the House, but the ruling party members were making unwarranted remarks which the Speaker did not expunge. Finally, Mr. Panneerselvam requested the Speaker to expunge the remark made by both him and Mr. Stalin, and the Speaker obliged.
