The first session at the new Assembly complex began on Friday with a walkout by AIADMK MLAs. Immediately after Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan began his budget speech, they walked out of the House.
The MLAs were wearing black shirts as a “mark of protest” against “deteriorating law and order situation and increase in prices of essential commodities.”
Addressing reporters outside the Assembly hall, deputy leader of the AIADMK O. Pannerselvam alleged that the State government had failed on all fronts.
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The common man was undergoing hardship due to the steep hike in prices of essential commodities, unannounced power cuts, especially in rural areas, and deteriorating law and order.
He criticised the government for not extending invitation, “in a proper manner,” to Leader of the Opposition Jayalalithaa for the inauguration of the Assembly complex.
He also accused the government of showing haste in completing the construction of the complex. “Where was the necessity to open the new complex when there are many burning issues in the State?”
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The MLAs also shouted slogans against the government.