Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami wins trust vote by 122-11 margin; says fulfilled Sasikala's vow

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday won the crucial vote of confidence by a huge margin of 122-11 amid stormy scenes in the state assembly.

The proceedings witnessed an absolute pandemonium during which the mikes were uprooted, chairs toppled and sheets of papers torn and hurled around.

As the situation turned violent, the speaker had to order the eviction of the main opposition DMK from the floor of the House even as its allies staged a walkout.

Speaker P Dhanapal was pushed and shoved around by agitated DMK MLAs whose leader M K Stalin warned they would commit "suicide" if attempts were made to marshal them out if the trust vote takes place in their absence.

Palaniswami won a resounding majority with 122 AIADMK MLAs supporting him during the vote of confidence after those of the DMK were evicted and its allies staged a noisy walkout. Together they accounted for 98 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly.

For all his spirited challenge, Palaniswami's rival O Panneerselvam could muster support of only 11 MLAs.

The division vote was taken up after two adjournments following tempestuous scenes during which the opposition MLAs insisted on a secret vote, a demand rejected outright by Speaker Dhanapal.

Soon Dhanapal was surrounded by a swarm of agitated DMK members, one of whom was seen trying to snatch the microphone from him.

Some angry opposition MLAs were seen hoisting and menacingly waving the chairs of official assembly reporters, while others tore sheets of paper and flung those around, including some towards the Speaker's podium.

A few opposition MLAs were seen pushing the Speaker, prompting the watch and ward staff to immediately throw a security cordon around him and escort him to safety.

The shirts of Speaker Dhanapal and Leader of the Opposition Stalin were torn in the melee.

After adjournments, when the House reassembled at 3 PM, Speaker Dhanapal, allowed Panneerselvam, who was among the votaries of a secret vote, Congress Legislature Party leader K R Ramasamy and IUML member Abubacker to make brief remarks.

The Speaker then ordered a block-wise division during which the MLAs were to stand in order to support or oppose the resolution moved by Palaniswami seeking confidence of the House.

The Palaniswami government sailed through the trust vote having garnered the support of 122 MLAs, with the DMK seats empty. Panneerselvam's 11 MLAs voted against the resolution. DMK's allies and Congress walked out and did not participate in the voting. Speaker Dhanapal declared the result amid a roaring applause by MLAs who supported Palaniswami.

"I am hurt and ashamed," the Speaker said after declaring the result of the trust vote, while referring to the unseemly scenes that preceded it.

It was only the second confidence vote in Tamil Nadu assembly in nearly three decades.

The previous such vote was taken in January 1988 during a succession war in AIADMK which was triggered following the death of its founder M G Ramachandran.

Janaki, the widow of Ramachandran, had then succeeded him in the midst of a bitter factional fight with J Jayalalithaa, then the AIADMK propaganda secretary.

Though Janaki had won the confidence vote amid violent scenes during which the MLAs supporting Jayalalithaa and those of Congress were beaten up, her government was dismissed by the Centre two days later.

The Governor sent a report to the Rajiv Gandhi government on the unruly incidents that took place during the trust vote and recommended President's rule. The recommendation was accepted.

The Janaki Ramachandran government had the shortest tenure of 24 days in Tamil Nadu's history.

"The vow taken by our party's General Secretary V K Sasikala has been fulfilled," he said as party cadres raised slogans "Chinnama Vaazhga!" at the MGR memorial, hailing Sasikala.

He was apparently referring to Sasikala's earlier assertion that Jayalalithaa's government would continue in the state.

Palanisami, flanked by his ministers and senior party leaders, including party Deputy General Secretary, TTV Dinakaran, paid floral tributes at the memorials of party founder M G Ramachandran and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

(With agency inputs)