The differences within AINRC came to the open once again in the Legislative Assembly on Monday with three of its legislators toeing a different line when the party staged a walkout.
Though party legislator T.P.R. Selvame had given enough indications in the past about his softened approach to the ruling Congress on issues, the decision of two other legislators — S.V. Sugumaran and B. Kobiga — not to join the walkout had brought to light the deep differences within AINRC.
Mr. Selvame not only abstained from joining the protest, he had even extended support to ruling establishment in their stand against Lt Governor. Legislators, N.S.J. Jayabal and Ashok Anand, had staged a walkout over the Centac issue.
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When reporters sought a reaction from Mr. Anand about three party MLAs not joining the protest, he said, “you better ask those who have joined the protest.”
Mr. Sugumaran, who also owns a private medical college, had last week left the House a few minutes before his party founder-leader N. Rangasamy staged a walkout over Centac issue. The lack of cohesion within the principal Opposition party has put the ruling party in an advantageous position in terms of floor management in the Assembly.