Probably it was one of his most emotional speeches delivered on the floor of the Assembly when former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Saturday pleaded with the Speaker to go in for secret voting on the Motion of Confidence moved by his successor in office.
Mr. Panneerselvam was greeted with loud cheers by the DMK MLAs as he entered the House at 10.42 a.m. Though there were discreet attempts by AIADMK (Sasikala) MLAs to look at him, none of them directly greeted him or made eye contact with him. The three-time former Chief Minister didn’t get up when Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami entered the House soon after.
When he was given a chance to speak, Mr. Panneerselvam claimed that an “unusual” situation was prevailing in Tamil Nadu where MLAs were not being allowed to go from a resort in Koovathur and meet people in their constituencies. Alleging that some “atrocities” were committed against MLAs, he claimed Coimbatore North MLA P.R.G. Arun Kumar had called him over phone on Saturday morning to complain about it.
“What is the reason [behind keeping MLAs in the resort]? Allow them to go to their constituencies,” Mr. Panneerselvam appealed to the Chair and further referred to how AIADMK MLAs were brought to the Assembly campus on Saturday morning in vehicles from the resort.
Claiming that for the last four to five days, people were looking for their MLAs, he said: “It would be just only if you let them [MLAs] to go to their constituencies and talk to the people. Now MLAs fear for their lives.” Then dramatically he urged the Speaker thrice to opt for secret voting and appealed to him with folded hands.
Whenever the Chair urged Mr. Panneerselvam and AIADMK MLAs supporting him to wind up their speeches, DMK MLAs came to their support and urged the Speaker to let them speak. The Chair was amused at this request and termed it DMK’s “unusual affection” towards them.
Acid threat
OPS supporter and former Education Minister K. Pandiarajan claimed he received a threat over phone that acid would be thrown at him if he voted against the government. Mr. Panneerselvam was often seen requesting the Chair to allow his supporters to speak.
When AIADMK MLA from Mylapore R. Natraj was allowed to speak, he maintained that he didn’t belong to any faction and appealed for unity among AIADMK MLAs. He said the people of the State voted for what he termed as ‘Amma’s rule’. Unity among them alone would ensure the government to continue.
Mettur MLA S. Semmalai, who had taken sides with Mr. Panneerselvam, complained that the MLAs were being threatened and were forced to stay at Koovathur resort. He alleged that his clothes were still at the resort.
Congress walks out
Meanwhile, the Congress members staged a walkout after their demand for secret ballot or adjournment of the voting was rejected by Speaker P. Dhanapal.
“As an extraordinary situation is prevailing in the State, only a secret ballot will put an end to many doubts,” said Congress Legislative Party leader K.R. Ramasamy.
Mr. Ramasamy reiterated his demand when the House met for the third time. His view was supported by Indian Union Muslim League member Muhammed Abubacker.
