TN Trust Vote: Angry DMK Calls for Hunger Strike on 22 February
Voting in Tamil Nadu assembly was mired by chaos and violence.
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- DMK working president MK Stalin arrested
- DMK leaders meet Governor Rao to submit a memorandum on Saturday’s trust vote
Palanisamy to remain the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - Palanisamy wins floor test with 122 MLAs, 11 were against him
- Speaker orders all 88 DMK MLAs out of Assembly
- MLAs manhandle Speaker, forcing adjournment of the House
- DMK, Congress MLAs vandalise furniture, raise slogans in favour of OPS
- Speaker rejects demand for secret ballot
Watch this space for all the live updates.
TN Governor Seeks Report
Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao seeks factual report from Assembly Secretary Jamaludeen on incidents that took place during trust vote.
MK Stalin Asks Governor to Nullify Saturday's Proceedings
DMK working president MK Stalin on Sunday urged the Tamil Nadu Governor to nullify the proceedings in the assembly on Saturday in which Chief Minister Palanisami won the confidence vote.
Stalin said the motion of confidence moved by Chief Minister Palanisami was adopted in the absence of the entire opposition on Saturday.
DMK Announces Hunger Strike on 22 Feb
DMK has announced a hunger strike on 22 Feb in all district offices of the party in Tamil Nadu, a day after its MLAs were forcibly evicted from the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Police have registered an FIR against MK Stalin a day after his party protested against the forceful eviction of party MLAs from the Tamil Nadu assembly and the alleged mistreatment of its working party president.
The police said the FIR was filed for unlawful assembly and violation of public order. “DMK staged the protest without obtaining prior permission as required under law”, a senior police official said. Besides Stalin, 63 MLAs, three MPs and several DMK cadres who participated in the protest have been named in the FIR, he said.
Stalin said he will participate in the hunger strike from Tiruchi. He added that the party MLAs are trying to meet President Pranab Mukherjee.
OPS, DMK Leaders Meet Governor
A delegation of DMK leaders met Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, and submitted a memorandum on Saturday’s trust vote. “We’ve submitted a memorandum on the issue to TN Governor; he has promised to look into the matter,” Tiruchi Siva of DMK said.
Amma Made Me Sit in This High Chair: TN Assembly Speaker Dhanapal
Tamil Nadu Assemby speaker spoke out after the ruckus in the special session. “Because Stalin accused me of shedding crocodile tears, I want to say a few things. I am from a very disadvantaged family, Amma uplifted me. I am from the Adi Dravidar community. Amma made me sit in this high chair, twice. The DMK’s act against me was an act of oppressing my community. While the country been free for 69 years, they don't want this community to come up. They purposefully behaved in such a way today,” he said.
“I did not want to speak about this, but Stalin gave an interview to the media so I had to speak up.”
Stalin, DMK Leaders Detained From Marina Beach
MK Stalin and other DMK MLAs detained from Marina beach.
Some TV channels reported minor violence in several parts of Chennai and Tamil Nadu, DMK cadres were also reportedly protesting and blocking roads.
We Will Continue to Run Amma's Government: EPS
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy addressed the media after paying tribute to Amma.
"We will continue to run Amma's government in Tamil Nadu. It is my pleasure to share with you that we have won the floor test. All the people in Tamil Nadu are very happy with what has happened," he said.
"You saw how the MLAs of the DMK misbehaved today at the Assembly."
Stalin to Fast at Marina Beach
After leaving the Raj Bhavan, MK Stalin goes to Marina beach. He will be going on a protest fast near the Gandhi Statue.
Stalin Meets Governor
DMK's Stalin meets the Governor, with his torn shirt, after being evicted from TN Assembly before the Confidence Motion moved by Edappadi Palaniswami.
DMK’s TKS Elangovan spoke to the media and after the assembly was adjourned by the Speaker, asked how the voting took place.
All MLAs were scared to cast votes in favour of the trust vote, he said.
After Winning Floor Test, Palanisamy Reaches Jayalalithaa Memorial
TN CM Edappadi Palanisamy reaches Jayalalithaa Memorial, breaks down and seeks blessings from Jayalalithaa.
Justice Will Prevail Again: Panneerselvam
After Palanisamy wins the trust vote, O Panneerselvam addressed the media and said that justice will prevail again.
“I assure you that. We requested the Speaker that MLAs be allowed to listen to the voice of the people and then vote freely at a later date, or there be a secret ballot at the Assembly today. But Speaker did not listen to us. DMK MLAs were forcibly evicted, they were injured. They were evicted undemocratically. Whether this vote will be valid or not, people will decide,” he said.
If need be, he will meet the Governor, he added.
Palanisamy Wins Floor Test With 122 MLAs
Edappadi Palanisamy wins the floor test with 122 MLAs voting for him and 1 against him. DMK MLAs were evicted.
Stalin Reaches Raj Bhavan After Being Evicted From TN Assembly
Stalin and other DMK workers protest outside the Raj Bhavan alleging that party MLAs were forcefully evicted from the TN Assembly.
Vote of Confidence Begins
CM Palanisamy's vote of confidence begins in Tamil Nadu assembly. The two factions are divided into six blocks.
Congress, IUML Walk Out of TN Assembly
After DMK MLAs were removed from the Assembly, the Congress and IUML MLAs stage walk out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
DMK MLAs Exit Assembly, Stalin Leaves With Torn Shirt
DMK MLAs have started leaving the Assembly premises. The party’s working president MK Stalin exits the Assembly with a torn shirt.
He said that the Speaker tore of his shirt himself and blamed MLAs of DMK. “We reiterate our demand for a secret ballot and are going to meet the Governor,” added Stalin.
All DMK MLAs Ordered to Leave Assembly
The Assembly has been adjourned again till 3 pm. Speaker P Dhanapal orders police to evict all 88 DMK MLAs, shrinking the strength of the Assembly for the trust vote.
Twitter's Take on MLA Hooliganism
TN Chief Secretary to Meet Governor
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan to meet Governor Rao shortly after talking to Assembly Speaker.
The governor cancels his trip to Mumbai.
Assembly Proceedings Resume
After the Assembly was adjourned amidst excessive chaos, the Speaker is back and the proceedings have begun again.
Security has been tightened at the Assembly and more police personnel have been brought into the premises.
Visuals From Assembly Show Speaker Being Manhandled
Jaya TV visuals show what happened inside the Assembly. Speaker Dhanapal was manhandled before being taken outside by marshals and police officials.
Ambulances Reach TN Assembly as Official Gets Injured
In a scuffle between the Secretariat staff and the MLAs, an office attender named Balaji has been injured at the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
He had high BP and was carried out of the premises into an ambulance.
MLA Mafoi Pandiarajan alleges after adjournment that he was threatened inside the assembly. "They threatened that they will throw acid on me."
Assembly Adjourned as Chaos Escalates
Speaker leaves the Assembly after being gheraoed by MLAs. Assembly adjourned till 1pm as OPS camp and Opposition seeking secret ballot create ruckus in the assembly.
MLAs tear paper, throw chairs, break a table and throw microphones. DMK MLA Poongothai Aladi Aruna climbs on bench and raises slogans demanding a secret ballot. Ku Ka Selvam, another DMK MLA, sat on the Speaker's chair in protest.
Division Voting did not even officially begin due to the chaos inside the Assembly.
OPS Speaks in Assembly, Voting Yet to Take Place
Panneerselvam says the floor test must reflect the views of the people. The people's voice should echo in the Assembly, he says.
Chaos continues in the Tamil Nadu Assembly as the Speaker rejects the secret ballot as well as Stalin’s plea to defer the trust vote.
Speaker P Dhanapal reportedly lashed out at the MLAs saying that “nobody can interfere in my decision on how to vote.”
Doors of the assembly have been closed for the trust vote but the vote has not begun because of the commotion. Division voting is expected to commence shortly, which means the MLAs will be counted after being made to stand in batches.
Palanisamy Moves Motion for Vote of Confidence Amid Ruckus
The Speaker has accepted Tamil Nadu CM E Palanisamy’s motion for vote of confidence in the Assembly.
This comes amid ruckus inside the Assembly as MLAs from the O Panneerselvam camp and the DMK call for S Semmalai to address the House. Semmalai was appointed the whip of AIADMK by Presidium Chairman Madhusudanan this morning.
Both the DMK and Congress have backed Panneerselvam’s demand for a secret ballot.
DMK MLAs raise slogans in support of Panneerselvam. DMK leader Stalin alleges that AIADMK MLAs of the Sasikala camp have been brought in like prisoners.
Media Banned From Entering Assembly Premises
Arguments break out between mediapersons and the police after reporters are denied entry into the Tamil Nadu Assembly premises.
Some media personnel allege they were manhandled by the police.
Strongly Appeal for Secret Ballot: Sasikala's Prosecutor
Asserting that the MLAs lodged at Golden Bay Resort can’t be expected to exercise free will in the trust vote, Sasikala’s Public Prosecutor BV Acharya has said that the President’s Rule should have been put in place for a few months.
Acharya said that the Governor should have brought in President's rule for at least 2-3 months so as to reinstate normalcy and to ensure that the MLAs are free to make their decision.
Palanisamy Reaches Secretariat for Floor Test
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy has reached the Secretariat ahead of the floor test in the Assembly.
A whip has been issued for all AIADMK members. The MLAs leaving from Golden Bay resort in the morning have said that they will vote accordingly.
DMK to Vote Against Palanisamy; Rahul Tells Cong MLAs the Same
Opposition DMK Working President M K Stalin said his party legislators would vote against the Palanisamy government in the floor test today. DMK has 89 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Rahul Gandhi has reportedly directed the eight Congress MLAs in the state to go against the trust vote. State Congress Committee chief had said the party unit would take a decision based on the "advice" of the party’s high command.
Panneerselvam on Friday evening urged AIADMK MLAs to vote against Palanisamy, saying that voting in favour of his government would be betraying Jayalalithaa.
Two AIADMK MLAs have also withdrawn their support for Palanisamy, taking the number of MLAs on his side to 122.
Overnight, MLA Arun Kumar from Coimbatore has dropped out of the Sasikala camp, and has announced that he will refrain from voting.
Taking into account the people sitting out on the floor test, the magic number comes down to 116 for Palanisamy, in the 234-member Assembly.
Panneerselvam Camp Seeks Secret Ballot
Speaking to reporters, S Semmalai, a part of the Panneerselvam camp, said they have urged the Speaker for a secret ballot to decide on the motion of confidence.
"Panneerselvam and the legislators supporting him should openly vote against the motion of confidence and to build on the credibility in the people's mind space," KC Palaniswamy, a former MP of AIADMK, told IANS on Friday.
On the other hand if secret ballot on the confidence motion is allowed and a whip is issued the issue before the Panneerselavam camp is whether to abide by the whip or disobey.
"In case if they disobey, whether they could be disqualified as legislators under the anti-defection law is a point to ponder," an AIADMK leader said.
On Thursday, MPs belonging to the Panneerselvam camp had met Election Commission officials and petitioned to disqualify Sasikala's appointment as General Secretary.
Palanisamy Set to Seek Vote of Confidence
Palanisamy, 63, a senior leader in the ruling AIADMK of the VK Sasikala camp, was sworn in on Thursday. He needs the support of 117 legislators to continue in the post.
The AIADMK party commands the support of 124 legislators, including the Speaker, while the breakaway group led by former Chief Minister Panneerselvam has 11 legislators.
On Friday, the Chief Minister's support base suffered erosion by one legislator. The assembly has a total strength of 234 of which one seat is vacant.
Tamil Nadu Floor Test Today
Tamil Nadu is poised for yet another day of intense political activity with the scene shifting to the state assembly.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy is all set to seek a vote of confidence on Saturday in the state assembly. The floor test is likely to be a volatile one, with the rival AIADMK faction led by O Panneerselvam joined by opposition parties to vote against the government.
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Published: 18 Feb 2017,07:52 AM IST