When Assembly Speaker R. Avudaiappan called for a vote after the Opposition pressed for a division on support to a resolution for the revival of the Upper House, it marked a first for the 13th Assembly: it was a rare instance of physical enumeration of votes in the House.
All Bills, demand for grants or resolutions are approved in the Assembly by a majority, but this is usually a voice vote. In a typical voice vote, the Speaker calls for members who support the motion to say “yes” and those who do not, to say “no.” The “Ayes” is always a vociferous – indicating their numerical strength – and hence the Speaker rules that the Bill or demand or resolution is passed.
This resolution, seeking the revival of the Upper House is different. It had to be approved by two-thirds majority in the House where the DMK has only 100 members (including the Speaker). There are 36 Congress members and 17 from the PMK. The DMK has been sailing along comfortably because of the unquestioned support of the Congress, which, in turn, benefits from the unquestioned support of the DMK at the Centre.
First the Speaker, assisted by the Assembly secretary, divided the House into four quarters, depending on the seating of the members -- from 1 to 41, 55 to 115, 116-210 and 211 to 234. Then, the secretary asked for those in support to rise in each of the sections. The stand of MLAs was recorded and announced.
Even as the voting process began, all visitors were asked to leave. The Press, officials connected with the Assembly duties, and Rajya Sabha MP, Kanimozhi, were allowed to remain. The Speaker later clarified that MPs could be present since they were elected representatives.
On an earlier occasion in the 13th Assembly, the AIADMK had moved a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. This did not result in a division as after a discussion with the Deputy Speaker in the Chair, the House, by a voice-vote affirmed its faith in the Speaker.
The Assembly secretariat confirmed that there was no situation wherein anyone pressed for a division in the five year period from 2001 to 2006. The AIADMK was in power between 2001 and 2006 and before that from 1991 to 1996. In both these periods it had a huge majority (132 in the 12th Assembly and 164 in 10th Assembly).
