Puducherry: DMK not to support no-confidence motion against Speaker, says R. Siva

The principal Opposition party in Puducherry, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, has taken a stand different as that of its ally Congress by deciding not to extend support to the two Independents to move a no-confidence motion against Speaker R. Selvam in the Puducherry Assembly.

The principal Opposition party in Puducherry, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, has taken a stand different as that of its ally Congress by deciding not to extend support to the two Independents to move a no-confidence motion against Speaker R. Selvam in the Puducherry Assembly.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), Opposition leader and DMK convenor R. Siva said the party leadership has felt it politically not prudent to support the decision of the two legislators to move a no-confidence motion. 

Last week, Independent MLAs, Nehru alias Kuppusamy and P. Angalane, had submitted separate notices to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker for allegedly breaking parliamentary rules and conventions by participating in party functions.

“In Puducherry, there is an A team and a B team for the ruling AINRC-BJP government. The two Independents who had submitted the notice for moving the no-confidence motion are close to the ruling party. The decision to submit the notice was due to the internal squabbles in the ruling front. Also, we cannot go by the decision of two Independents as they could shift allegiance anytime. So, our leadership in Chennai has asked us to be mere spectators in the political game,” Mr. Siva said.

When pointed out that its ally in INDIA bloc, Congress, has decided to support the no-confidence motion in the Assembly, Mr. Siva said “both (Congress and DMK) are different parties and have different stands on issues. The Congress did not consult us before making the announcement.”

When asked whether DMK will change its stand on supporting the no-confidence motion if Congress legislators submit a notice for moving a resolution against the Speaker, Mr. Siva said if such a scenario arises the party would take a decision after consulting the leadership.

Member of Parliament and PCC chief V. Vaithilingam, while announcing the Congress party’s stand on the no-confidence motion at a press conference on Monday (December 23, 2024), had stated that it was the duty of Opposition to support the two Independent MLAs as Mr. Selvam was working against rules and conventions.