During the final day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly's monsoon session, members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) were forcibly removed due to a dispute over seating arrangements, which centered on the issue of EPS-OPS placements.
The AIADMK, as the primary opposition party, raised concerns regarding the continued presence of the expelled party leader, O. Panneerselvam, in the position of Deputy Floor Leader for the opposition.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Edappadi K. Palaniswami, addressed Speaker M. Appavu, referencing court rulings, and explained that his party had repeatedly requested a change in seating arrangements in the assembly to accommodate the new Deputy Floor Leader.
In response to the AIADMK's objections, a commotion erupted within the assembly, prompting Speaker Appavu to instruct the assembly Marshals to remove the AIADMK members. The evicted MLAs contended that democratic procedures were not being upheld in the state Assembly.
Prior to the AIADMK's decision to abandon the dual leadership structure within the party, Edapaddi K. Palaniswami, also known as EPS, held the position of Leader of the Opposition, while OPS was designated as the Deputy Opposition Leader. They were also seated next to each other in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
However, following OPS's expulsion from the party during the General Council meeting of AIADMK on July 11, senior leader RB Udayakumar was appointed as the Deputy Opposition Leader.
Despite AIADMK's requests, Speaker Appavu refused to make any alterations, stating that he would only acknowledge instructions from the Election Commission regarding the matter.
Nonetheless, the existing assembly seating arrangements still required EPS and OPS to sit side by side since OPS continues to serve as an MLA. AIADMK members have expressed their dissatisfaction with the speaker's inaction on this matter and have, in recent sessions, walked out in protest.
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