Thoothukudi, Cauvery to dominate Assembly session

The BAC, which met under the chairmanship of Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal, had finalised the schedule to take up demands for grants for various departments and the House would be in session from May 29 to July 9. 

The session would have as many as 23 working days during the period. The House would not sit on Saturdays and Sundays, and between June 15 (Ramzan) and June 24, which also includes two weekends. As per the schedule, the Assembly would not meet on July 2 as well. The demands for grants of the environment department, which has ambit over Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, would be taken up for debate on June 28, while the demand for public works department along with highways and minor ports would be taken up on June 11, and that of the agriculture department would be taken up on June 12. On the opening day, the House would take up the demand for departments of forest and information technology, followed by School Education and Higher Education the next day. 

Energy department and prohibition and excise department would be taken up on May 31. Meanwhile, the Opposition has openly proclaimed that they would not relent until their demands seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and that of DGP TK Rajendran for Thoothukudi firings are accepted. An all-party meeting that was convened on Wednesday by the Opposition sought an autonomous all-powerful Cauvery Management Board or Cauvery River Management Authority as the final draft approved by the Supreme Court did not give powers for the authority to operate the dams.