Attending Assembly sessions: Karuna hits back at Panneerselvam

Chennai, Nov 23: Continuing the war of words with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam over him attending the assembly session, DMK president M Karunanidhi today said he was ready to do so if proper seating arrangements were made for him by the AIADMK government.

Responding to recent comments by Panneerselvam that he was not attending the proceedings of the House, Karunanidhi said he had informed the AIADMK government in 2013 and this year that he was unable to attend the session due to lack of adequate seating arrangements for him.

"In November 2013 and June 2014, I had informed the AIADMK government that I will be unable to attend Assembly sessions as they have not provided seating arrangements considering my health," Karunanidhi said in his party organ "Murasoli". The DMK patriarch alleged that the AIADMK government had deliberately not made any seating arrangements for him in order to prevent him from attending the Assembly sessions. Karunanidhi said he was ready to attend the sessions if the Chief Minister provides adequate seating arrangement for him besides assuring that AIADMK members maintain discipline, just like DMK members did when AIADMK was in the opposition.

Yesterday Pannerselvam had said that Karunanidhi did not have the standing to demand convening of the Assembly session, as he hardly attended the proceedings.

PTI