Chennai: Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and DMK legislature party leader M. K. Stalin were on Wednesday sworn in as MLAs during a day-long special session of the Assembly.
Protem speaker S. Semmalai began the proceedings of the House by praising Ms Jayalalithaa for scripting history by returning back to power triggering protest by DMK MLA J. Anbazhagan. However, Mr Anbazhagan took his seat after Mr Stalin signaled him not to disrupt the proceedings.
Mr Semmalai, who was sworn in as pro-tem speaker on Monday, administered oath to 228 MLAs. The Chief Minister took oath in the name of God followed by her cabinet colleagues beginning with finance minister O. Panneerselvam.
AIADMK members thumped the desk heavily when Ms Jayalalithaa entered the House a little before 11 am when the proceedings began.
Ms Jayalalithaa and Mr Stalin greeted each other as the Chief Minister made her way into the House. Mr Stalin had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Ms Jayalalithaa on Monday.
The Chief Minister had on Tuesday thanked Mr Stalin for attending the swearing-in and hoped to work with his party for the betterment of the state.
After the ministers, DMK leader M.K. Stalin, who is set to take over as Leader of the Opposition, took oath in the name of his conscience followed by former Speaker and Deputy Speaker P. Dhanapal and V. Jayaraman.
A few minutes after taking oath, Ms Jayalalithaa left the House. She was not present when Mr Stalin and Mr Karunanidhi took oath. After all MLAs were sworn in, Mr Semmalai adjourned the House to June 3, when election to the post of Speaker will be held.
