Chennai: Amid a potential three-way split in the ruling AIADMK with TTV Dhinakaran attracting more legislators, the TN Assembly that convenes on June 14 will have 24 sittings during which demands for grants of all departments will be discussed and passed.
The 24-day long Assembly session is expected to be stormy since it comes close on the heels of the ruling party splitting into camps led by CM Palanisami, former CM O. Panneerselvam and embattled AIADMK deputy general secretary Dhinakaran.
After a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the TN Assembly on Wednesday, Speaker said it was decided to hold the session from June 14 to July 19 with 12 government holidays or weekends falling during the period.
The Budget for the year 2017-18 was presented on March 16, but the Assembly session was shortened to ensure campaigning for the RK Nagar bypolls originally scheduled for April 12 without discussing and passing demands for grants of departments. However, the bypoll was cancelled.
“The session will see the passage of demands for grants to all departments, all parties agreed to hold the session for 24 days,” Dhanapal said. During the session, the majority of the Palanisami government will be put to test almost every day through various motions and voting on demands for grants since the it’s survival hinges on the oral assurance of the AIADMK (Amma) deputy general secretary Dhinakaran, who commands the support of more than 30 MLAs.
If Dhinakaran’s supporters ditch the government on any of the motions or voting on grants, the ruling party will have a base of only 97 members and even this number is uncertain since the CM is still to prove his hold over the remaining members. The principal opposition party, DMK, could utilise the occasion to mount pressure on the Speaker.
