The Hindu : Front Page : No-confidence motion against Speaker defeated by voice vote

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 04, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

No-confidence motion against Speaker defeated by voice vote

Special Correspondent

AIADMK members stage walkout protesting against Deputy Speaker's action

— Photo: R. Ragu

R. Avudaiappan.

CHENNAI: A motion of no confidence against Speaker R. Avudaiappan, moved by AIADMK member M. Thambidurai, was defeated by a voice vote on Thursday.

Midway through the debate, which witnessed uproarious scenes, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members staged a walkout, alleging that Deputy Speaker V.P. Duraisamy was conducting the House in an autocratic manner. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members joined the walkout.

The Dalit Panthers of India did not participate in the proceedings.

In the absence of the main Opposition party, the entire House adopted a resolution unanimously reposing faith in the Speaker.

Notice allowed

When the House convened at 9-30 a.m., Mr. Avudaiappan informed the House that Mr. Thambidurai had given notice for a motion of no confidence against him. Though there were many procedural shortcomings in the manner in which the notice was given, he was allowing it. Leader of the House K. Anbazhagan moved a motion to waive the mandatory time frame for the motion to be taken up and requested that it be debated the same day.

Soon, the Speaker withdrew to his Chamber and the Deputy Speaker conducted the proceedings. He wanted Mr. Thambidurai to propose the motion. Once this was done, Mr. Duraisamy waited a short while before announcing that the motion could not be allowed because no one had seconded it. This had the AIADMK members on their feet.

Mr. Anbazhagan again intervened and requested Mr. Duraisamy to overlook the technicality and allow the motion. Congress leader D. Sudarsanam pointed out that when his party had brought in a similar motion when the AIADMK was in power, the then Deputy Speaker had denied permission citing this technicality.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition O. Paneerselvam faulted the Assembly secretariat for not including in the listed agenda this matter of "utmost public importance." There was also no prior intimation.

Speaking on the motion, Mr. Thambidurai said when the AIADMK members were evicted on July 31, women members were manhandled and male watch and ward staff had pushed them. K. Ghayathri Devi (Congress), who sits next to the AIADMK members, and K. Balabarathi (CPI-M) said that no one was manhandled or pushed by the watch and ward staff.

Mr. Paneerselvam said that as Mr. Duraisamy was allowing anyone to intervene and speak when Mr. Thambidurai was making his submission, his party was staging a walkout. When the AIADMK members continued to raise slogans in the lobby, the Deputy Speaker ordered that they be evicted from there.

Later, led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, all the party leaders reposed their faith in the Speaker. The Speaker thanked them.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page