EPS, team decide to stage hunger protest against Speaker Appavu

CHENNAI: After deciding to boycott the Assembly session on Wednesday, AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami along with his supporters, including 61 MLAs, would stage hunger protest at Valluvar Kottam condemning Speaker M Appavu for acting in an “biased” manner.

The Speaker had not recognised RB Udhayakumar (from the EPS camp) as the deputy LoP despite the party submitting a petition well in advance of the winter session, EPS camp alleged.

Citing the incident in the Assembly on the second day of the winter session, the AIADMK, in a statement, said the party would stage a hunger protest condemning the “murder of democracy” in the state assembly.

EPS along with the MLAs in his camp have been evicted from the Assembly after they raised an issue over the seating arrangements ahead of the question hour on Tuesday.

“The decision has been arrived at with the consensus of party interim general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami,” said the statement from the party. The party MLAs and functionaries from Chennai have been asked to participate in the protest without fail.

“We have decided to hold a hunger protest to condemn the Speaker for violating the rules despite our leader (EPS) communicating to derecognise O Panneerselvam, who has only three MLAs support, as deputy opposition leader and rearrange the seating in the assembly.

But the Speaker is acting as per the whips and fancy of the Chief Minister (M K Stalin) and violated the rules,” said a MLA and support of EPS.

The party leaders have submitted a letter to the police department, seeking permission.

“We will go ahead with our plans even if the police deny permission,” he added.