Political tug of war drags Balaji’s speech to 75 minutes

Speaking on the demand on grants of Energy department, Senthil Balaji commenced his speech by praising DMK and its party president MK Stalin. He said, “Stalin is a leader who did not get position and power in the party by either stooping or crouching.”

The comments of Senthil Balaji created a huge uproar in the Assembly as AIADMK MLAs and Ministers opposed the statement. When he continued by saying Periyar and Anna they “shouted Amma” and prevented Senthil Balaji from uttering the name of former DMK president M Karunanidhi, but Senthil Balaji continued.

He was immediately interfered by State Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar, who read the statements made by Senthil Balaji in the Assembly when he was the Transport Minister. Stalin interfered and said that Senthil Balaji did not speak anything controversial and asked Speaker P Dhanapal that why did the Minister interfere when no controversial issue was discussed.

Immediately, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, interfered to justify Udayakumar by saying that the Minister spoke what Senthil Balaji said in the Assembly and they are on records. Stalin questioned Speaker whether he can recall the statements made by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, which he made on the death of former chief ministerJ Jayalalithaa.

Panneerselvam then interfered and said that what he did was a ‘dharmayutham’ and even Chief Minister agreed with him on his demand of setting up inquiry commission on the death of Jayalalithaa. He also said that Senthil Balaji has the habit of jumping to several parties and he should “clean the dirt in his slippers before criticising others.”

DMK Treasurer Duraimurugan, then said that it is not civil on AIADMK’s part to recall the past in the Assembly. “He was hurt by the activities of the party and so he had left it,” said Duraimurugan.

Chief Minister then said that by saying that we stooped, and crawled is to hurt the sentiments of the senior leaders and opposition party members shouldavoid it.

State Electricity Minister P Thangamani replied that AIADMK members are proud that we were the slaves to the love showered by Jayalalithaa and informed the House that the comments of Panneerselvam were not made inside the Assembly.

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar replied to Duraimurugan by saying that there is no problem for them in Senthil Balaji shifting parties, but he has no moral rights to speak against them.

Palaniswami then said that what is hurting them is that they have worked for his victory in Aravakurichi in 2011 elections and their efforts have gone a waste.

Finally, the Speaker interfered and asked the members to stop the debate as 20 minutes allotted for Senthil Balaji had been far exceeded. Due to the political debate, his address stretched to more than 75 minutes which was cut abruptly by the Speaker.