Chennai, Oct 17 (IANS)
The Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker, M. Appavu has allowed AIADMK deposed leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam (OPS) to be seated in his old seat. This was seen when the legislative assembly convened on Monday. Three other MLAs owing allegiance to OPS were also seated in their usual seats. The AIADMK had objected to granting old seats in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly for OPS and those who were removed from party.
Opposition leader, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and all other AIADMK members were conspicuous by their absence in the first day of the assembly session.
Speaker M. Appavu however did not respond to the query of reporters on the four letters submitted to him including two by O. Panneerselvam. He said that it was not appropriate for him to speak to the press when the house was in session.
He said that an appropriate reply would be given in the assembly when those involved or those affected raise questions in the house.
It may be noted that former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and those close to him were dismissed from the AIADMK during its general council on July 11. However, the issue turned legal after a single bench of the Madras High Court stayed the proceedings of dismissal of OPS but the stay was vacated by a division bench of the same court.
OPS then moved Supreme Court which stayed the division bench of the Madras High Court. AIADMK interim general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami informed the apex court that there won’t be any elections for the post of general secretary until the court’s final verdict on the matter. Edappadi K. Palaniswami had earlier said that he would go ahead with the AIADMK party elections and was expecting to win a landslide as most of the party general council members were siding with him.
