Tamil Nadu: Palaniswamy wins trust vote amid bedlam

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy won the confidence of the House, polling 122 votes for and 11 votes against, in a trust vote amid chaotic scenes in the assembly on Saturday.

Although the O Panneerselvam camp and the opposition DMK were instrumental in stalling proceedings, demanding a secret ballot, Speaker P Dhanapal held a voice vote and declared Palaniswami the winner after all the DMK MLAs were evicted from the House.

The Panneerselvam camp with 11 MLAs said that “the battle is over but the war has just begun”.

As the assembly session began, the floor witnessed ruckus and sloganeering after Palaniswamy moved the motion to seek confidence of the House.

Some DMK MLAs charged towards the Speaker, demanding postponement. Supporters of Panneerselvam demanded a secret ballot. MLAs pushed and shoved the Speaker, who was soon escorted to safety. A DMK MLA briefly occupied the Speaker’s chair even as others were flinging papers in the air.

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After the first adjournment, the House resumed amid high drama. The Speaker claimed that his shirt was torn by MLAs and ordered the eviction of all DMK MLAs who were not allowing the House to function. Leader of opposition MK Stalin and other DMK leaders were carried out of the House.

Stalin later stepped out of the secretariat with his shirt unbuttoned and claimed that he was attacked in the House. He was arrested from Marina where he was sitting in protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Meanwhile, the CM said, “Those who wanted to bring down Amma’s rule now stand exposed. We will strive to fulfil Amma’s dreams.”