T.N. Assembly: AIADMK legislators stage walkout over Speaker’s denial of permission to raise issues

The AIADMK legislators staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday (April 8, 2025), accusing Speaker M. Appavu of denying them opportunities to raise public issues and of blacking out the live telecast of speeches by AIADMK MLAs when they moved calling attention motions.

The AIADMK legislators staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday (April 8, 2025), accusing Speaker M. Appavu of denying them opportunities to raise public issues and of blacking out the live telecast of speeches by AIADMK MLAs when they moved calling attention motions.

As a mark of protest against the denial of permission to raise issues, the AIADMK legislators participated in the Question Hour wearing black. As soon as the Question Hour ended, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami stood up to raise an issue. However, Mr. Appavu informed the House that Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) floor leader G.K. Mani had sought permission to raise another important issue.

Mr. Palaniswami said he had not objected to Mr. Mani raising an issue, but with the AIADMK being the principal opposition party, he, as the Leader of the Opposition, should be given priority to raise issues concerning the public.

When the Speaker denied him the opportunity and allowed Mr. Mani to move the calling attention motion, Leader of the House and Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan intervened and urged the Speaker to give an opportunity to the Leader of the Opposition to speak.

Mr. Palaniswami then raised concerns about AIADMK members’ speeches being excluded from live telecasts. He alleged that when the MLAs of his party moved calling attention motions, their speeches were blacked out. “When AIADMK MLA C. Vijayabaskar moved a calling attention motion related to the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link canal project on April 1, his speech was not telecast live. Similarly, the speech of Agri S.S. Krishnamoorthy on March 26, related to deaths in Tiruchendur and Rameswaram temples, was also not aired live,” Mr. Palaniswami alleged.

In response, Mr. Appavu said: “Based on the DMK’s poll promise, the Chief Minister had announced on September 9, 2021, that Assembly proceedings would be aired live. A committee was formed to thoroughly study the impact of the live telecast. After having wider consultations, it was decided to telecast only the Question Hour, the Chief Minister’s speech, suo motu announcements under Rule 110 of the Assembly, and Ministers’ reply to the motions moved by MLAs and demands for grants. The Chief Minister has suggested organising training programmes for MLAs before live telecasting the entire proceedings.”

Meanwhile Mr. Duraimurugan said: “If there were any mistakes in the live telecast, it would be corrected.” When Mr. Palaniswami attempted to speak again, Mr. Appavu denied him permission. Taking strong objection to this, the AIADMK MLAs staged a walkout.