All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party members on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Assembly on the issue of a no-confidence motion against Speaker V.P. Sivakolundhu.
Soon after the House convened, Opposition leader and AINRC chief N. Rangasamy was on his feet seeking clarifications from the Speaker on the notice for the no-confidence motion given by the Opposition.
The AINRC chief said there was no rationale in proceeding with the meeting when the Opposition members have expressed a lack of confidence in the Speaker. If there was going to be a delay in taking up the motion, the government should conduct the proceedings with someone else in the chair, the former Chief Minister said.
When Mr. Sivakolundhu replied that the matter would be dealt as per the rules of the Assembly, the Opposition leader insisted on fixing a date for the motion to be taken up.
Soon, other members belonging to the AINRC and BJP joined Mr. Rangasamy in calling for the no-confidence motion.
Minister for Power R. Kamalakannan and Government whip R.K.R. Anantharaman argued that the Opposition cannot impose such conditions on the Speaker. Mr. Anantharaman said as per rules, no resolution should be moved for at least 14 days after a notice of no-confidence was submitted against the Speaker.
At this point, AIADMK floor leader A. Anbalagan sought to know whether there was any intention to take up the no-confidence motion. Mr. Anbalagan said he failed to understand why the government was hesistant to take up the motion.
Giving an assurance that law will take its course on the no-confidence motion, Mr. Sivakolundhu skipped to other procedures. Not satisfied with the reply, members led by Mr. Rangasamy staged a walkout from the house.
Obituary mentions
Earlier when the House assembled, the Speaker read out obituary references to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, former Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar, former Union Minister Jaipal Reddy and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy recalled his long association with the former Union Ministers.
