Aggressive Opposition leader ‘rules the fort’

Stalin and his legislators on Saturday easily upstaged both factions of the AIADMK and ensured Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy’s vote of confidence could not be set in motion from 11am till 3pm.

The Leader of Opposition, whose political theatrics even eclipsed the euphoria of AIADMK men who celebrated the floor test victory, had set the tone for the day when he urged the Speaker to allow rebel AIADMK MLA Semmalai to Speak on the motion in the House.

Stalin soon demanded secret ballot instead of voice vote on the motion. 

As Speaker P Dhanapal continued to reject their demand, the DMK legislators upped the ante turning the situation from bad to worse. They climbed on their seats and ‘howled’ before tearing the resolution copies and hurling them at the Speaker. 

Later, Stalin, emerged out with a fully unbuttoned shirt, and said, “We insisted on holding secret ballot, but the Speaker adjourned the House and invited us to his chamber. He (Dhanapal) himself tore his shirt and blamed us.” Finally, all DMK MLAs were evicted from the House.