TN assembly adjourns sine die

Chennai, Feb 10 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly was adjournedsine die today amid acrimonious scenes with three AIADMK MLAstearing copies of interim budget, attracting breach ofprivilege and the party staging a walk-out.

The principal opposition party also hinted that its partychief J Jayalalithaa may not make the New Legislative Assemblycomplex, also housing the Upper House and the Secretariat,herseat of power in the event of winning elections, due in May.

Participating in the debate on the interim budget, DeputyLeader of the AIADMK Legislature, O Panneerselvam said theruling DMK will face defeat in the elections due to variousissues including its alleged failure to control price rise andpower crisis.

"AIADMK will come return to power and our party chief(Jayalalithaa) will come back as Chief Minister at St.George''sFort," he said.

After having long served as the seat of power in TamilNadu, the British-built St George''s Fort was bid adieu lastyear when the Assembly session was held at the New Assemblycomplex, whose construction is yet to be completed.

A project said to be close to the heart of DMK presidentand Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the then over Rs 500 crorecomplex was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inthe presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in March 2010.

Jayalalithaa, also the Opposition Leader in the Assembly,had not attended a single day''s proceedings there even as shehad criticised the building for its lack of aesthetics.

On Monday, the AIADMK had moved a resolution seeking theHouse''s permission to abstain her for the last session of thepresent Assembly on health grounds and that she required''complete rest''.

Responding to Panneerselvam''s remarks that the DMK willlose in the elections, Finance Minister K Anbazhagan said"when the party members of a leader who is taking rest thinkshe can win, why not the DMK whose leader (Karunanidhi) isactive and performing," drawing strong protests from AIADMKmembers.

He was wrapping up the debate on the interim budget.

For a while, the DMK and AIADMK members sparred on thismatter with the latter subsequently walking out.

Later, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin moved a resolutionsaying that three AIADMK members- D Jayakumar, K Hari and AKBose, had torn copies of the interim budget which he described"are against the ethos of the House" and breach of privilege.

However, the House pardoned them, he said in the resolutionwhich was adopted by a voice vote.

The House was later adjourned since die following aresolution moved by Anbazhagan and adopted by the House. PTISA BN