No-confidence motion against Speaker defeated in TN Assembly

Chennai, May 14 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly today defeated a no-confidence against Speaker R Avudaiyappan, amid a walk out by the Opposition AIADMK, which moved the motion.

After an elaborate debate by the Opposition and the leaders of the alliance parties ruling DMK, the motion was defeated by a voice vote.

After a reply to the debate by Leader of the House K Anbazhagan, Deputy Speaker V P Duraiswamy, who was in the chair, put the resolution to voice vote and declared that it was defeated unanimously.

He later invited Mr Avudaiyappan, who was not present during the debate, to come to the House and assume his chair.

When the Speaker came to the House to occupy his Chair, amid loud and prolonged thumping of desks by the ruling DMK and its allies, the AIADMK members led by Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam, staged a walk out.

After assuming the Chair, Mr Avudaiyappan said he had been functioning as a neutral Speaker, giving the Opposition more opportunities.

He said he would continue to conduct the House in a democratic manner.

''I will always function freely and independently,'' he added.

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