Chennai: The Congress legislator and party whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, S. Vijayadharani, was evicted from the Assembly on Tuesday for defying the chair and also obstructing the proceedings.
The lone women MLA in the party attempted to raise an issue pertaining to her Vilavancode constituency in Kanyakumari district during the debate on the demand for grants for Agricultural department. However, Speaker P. Dhanapal refused to take up the matter immediately but she insisted that it be taken up for discussion at once.
When Mr. Dhanapal warned of action if she continued to obstruct the proceedings of the House, Ms. Vijayadharani argued with him and at one point even dared him to take action. After repeated warnings failed to make her see reason, the Speaker ordered the watch and ward staff to evict her from the House.
Thereafter, Congress legislature party leader K. R. Ramasamy tried to raise the matter about her eviction, but Mr. Dhanapal told him not to divert the issue. Protesting against this, the Congress members staged a walkout. Condemning her behaviour Mr. Dhanapal said this was not the first time that she had conducted herself in the House in a defiant manner. He would be constrained to initiate sterner action in future if she did not change her behaviour.
Mr Dhanapal, who expunged her remarks, said she spoke in an intimidating manner and dared him to initiate action. “And even after that if I had not acted then there is no meaning in me occupying this Chair (of Speaker),” he said. Turning to the members in the House, he said, “You saw her behaviour. It is condemnable. I had no other choice. So far, I have not ordered the eviction of any woman member of the House.”
In his inimitable style, DMK deputy leader Duraimurugan brought the tempers down and requested that the legislator be allowed (to take up the issue) tomorrow. Later, speaking to reporters outside the House, Vijayadharani made certain allegations and informed that the issue she tried to raise in the Assembly was related to granting relief to people in Kanyakumari district.
