Councillors must be brought under Anti-Defection Act: Anbazhagan

Pondicherry, Aug 9 (UNI) The AIADMK legislature party leader A Anbazhagan today demanded that the municipal councillors be brought under the purview of Anti-Defection Act by suitably amending the laws.

Participating in the discussion on demand for grants for various departments in the Assembly today, Mr Anbazhagan pointed out the defection of some councillors, from one party to another after winning the elections.

He said, the Lt Governor invited the ten member Congress to form the Ministry after the seven member DMK group extended it's support.

It is ridiculous that the DMK which is supporting the government was given the main opposition party status and was given a seat in the opposition row and allowed to move the cut-motions. The same was the case of the lone CPI member also, he added.

Pointing out that there is no women representation in the house Mr Anbazhagan urged Chief Minister N Rangasamy to ensure that the three posts of the nominated members be given to women and assured the full support of AIADMK in this regard.

Mr Anbazhagan said that there is no security to the legislators inside the Assembly premises. Over 500 persons were coming to the house daily. He demanded that the Speaker should introduce a pass system for visitors and the Assembly should be held under the security of a police official at the rank of a Superintendent, he added.

Intervening, the Speaker said that the suggestion of Anbazhagan would be considered.

He pointed out that volunteers joining a particular political party posing for photographs on the steps of the legislative assembly and councillors of a particular party organising meetings in the committee hall of the assembly are against the tradition of the House.

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