All hell broke lose in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Saturday as a trust vote for the Edappadi Palaniswami government got underway.
Trouble started after the Speaker rejected the demand for a secret ballot by MLAs belonging to the O Panneerselvam camp, who were supported by the DMK, Congress and IUML.
Chief minister Palaniswami, who has a wafer-thin majority, suffered a jolt on Friday after former state police chief and MLA R Nataraj switched sides to Panneerselvam’s camp.
Early Saturday, another MLA, Arun Kumar, who was holed up at the Koovathur resort, escaped and said he will abstain from voting in the floor test.
Trust Vote
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is seeking a vote of confidence in Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The Speaker of the house has rejected DMK, O Pannerselvam, and Congress's demand for a secret ballot.
The Assembly proceedings are taking place secretly as no audio or video is available. O. Pannerselvam is continuously demanding a secret ballot and a chance for all the MLAs to visit their respective constituencies before voting.
Violence breaks out
A floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Saturday is expected to go down to the wire, as chief minister EK Palaniswami’s wafer-thin majority has thrown the exercise wide open.
With minutes to go for the trust vote, former CM O Panneerselvam made a last-ditch attempt to woo legislators to his side.
Former state police chief and MLA R Nataraj switched sides to Panneerselvam’s camp on Friday, dealing a blow to the newly appointed CM.
Just before the trust vote, AIADMK MLA Arun Kumar escaped from the Golden Bay Resort and will reportedly abstain from voting in the floor test.
Legislators believed to be loyal to jailed party chief Sasikala and her proxy, Palaniswami, have been camping in the seaside resort for some days.
OPS Demands Secret Ballot
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is seeking a vote of confidence in Tamil Nadu Assembly. The Speaker of the house has rejected DMK, O Pannerselvam, and Congress's demand for a secret ballot.
The Assembly proceedings are taking place secretly as no audio or video is available. O. Pannerselvam is continuously demanding a secret ballot and a chance for all the MLAs to visit their respective constituencies before voting.
