TN Assembly floor test: Democratic traditions ignored, says Congress

Expressing disappointment over the mayhem in the Tamil Nadu state assembly, the Congress Party on Saturday said democratic traditions were violated.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal told ANI that as far as the demands of the political parties are concerned, the speaker is the arbiter of these demands and whatever the speaker decides will be accepted by the state assembly.

"In an environment of peace and tranquility, the voting should take place, and, it is unfortunate that we have incidents like this. It is not good for democratic traditions. As far as the demands of the political parties are concerned, the speaker is the arbiter of these demands and whatever the speaker decides, will be accepted by the assembly and the voting should take place according to that," he added.

Toeing similar sentiments, another Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI that the law is what the speaker decides within the house which is final and binding on all and have no second guessing.

"On all matters of procedure and on all matter of internal management, on matters of running the house that is the way it is. Whether you like it or not. So, there is no question of judicial review of a speaker's decision for matters within the house. There is no question of second guessing or double guessing," he added.

Violence by DMK MLAs marred the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, which met on Saturday morning to take up a motion of vote of confidence moved by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami forcing Speaker P. Dhanapal.

The O. Panneerselvam camp and Congress protested in the House demanding secret ballot in the floor test.

The assembly was adjourned twice during the day before Palaniswamy secured the vote of confidence with the support of 122 MLAs.