A sense of palpable expectation was evident in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today as the Madras High Court delivered its verdict on the disqualificaiton of 18 AIADMK MLAs.
Though it was business as ususal with the demand for grants to Health being taken up, the opposition benches were empty following a walkout by the principal opposition DMK.
The walkout by DMK,announced by leader of the opposition, M K Stalin on the floor of the House, occurred exactly at a time when the delivery of judgment was expected by 1.15 PM.
The DMK's walkout was over expunging remarks of one of its members by Deputy Speaker Pollachi V Jayaraman.
After an exchange of words with Jayaraman and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on the issue, Stalin said his party was walking out.
After the Opposition members walked out, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Panneerselvam, some Ministers and several members of the ruling party too were not present in the House for some time. Most seats in the press gallery too were empty.
Congress MLA H Vasanthakumar walked in to an overcrowded press room in the Assembly complex to view television news bulletins on the disqualification case.
Similarly, members could also be seen checking their mobile phones on the outer corridor of the Assembly for updates on the case.
After the pronouncement of the split verdict, DMK leaders Stalin and Duraimurugan came back to the Assembly and were present for a while.
Also, Chief Minister Palaniswami,his deputy Panneerselvam and other ruling party members too resumed their seats and were present through the business hours.
Following the debate on demand for grants to Health and Family Welfare departments, Minister C Vijayabaskar wound up the discussion with his reply.
The Assembly will resume its sitting on June 25 after a reces of 10 days.
The Madras High Court today gave a split verdict on petitions challenging disqualification of 18 MLAs loyal to sidelined party leader T T V Dhinakaran, a ruling that would maintain status quo in the corridors of power in Tamil Nadu.
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