Oppn AIAMDK members evicted en masse from TN Assembly

Chennai, Jan 27 (UNI) Members of the main opposition AIADMK were evicted en masse from the Tamil Nadu Assembly today, after they shouted slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the issue of reported violence during Chennai Corporation polls.

As soon as the House met at 0930 hrs, the AIADMK MLAs were on their feet, shouting slogans against the Government.

When some of the members trooped to the well of the House and raised slogans, Speaker R Avudaiyappan ordered the watch and ward staff to evict all AIADMK MLAs.

As some of the members continued to raise slogans from the lobby of the House, the Speaker ordered marshals to remove them from that place as well.

Members of the Marumarchi DMK, an ally of the AIADMK, staged a walkout in the House.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam told reporters later that Mr Karunanidhi and Local Administration Minister M K Stalin should resign owning moral responsibility for the violence during the corporation polls in the wake of the Madras High Court's split verdict in the matter.

They also demanded the resignation of State Election Commissioner T Chandrasekaran, the Director General of Police D Mukherjee and the City Police Commissioner Letika Saran for ''failing to discharge their duties in a fair and free manner.'' Both the AIADMK and the MDMK had boycotted Assembly proceedings during the entire session by staging walkouts even before the House could commence its business.

UNI