The theatrical trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly in which Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami won took another turn as it had been challenged by the opposition DMK. Its request to cancel the vote is likely to be heard by the Madras High Court on Tuesday.
Reports suggests that, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao on Sunday asked for a report on the assembly incidents.
Palaniswami sailed through the trust vote by winning 122 votes after 88 DMK legislators were evicted by Speaker P Dhanapal for violence in the house. The 11 votes against him were cast by the rebel faction in the ruling AIADMK, led by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.
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DMK lawmakers have said that the trust vote is illegal because it was introduced twice – once in the morning and again after two adjournments in the house.
In the chaos that erupted after the Speaker first announced the trust vote – rejecting a demand by the DMK, the Congress and the AIADMK rebels for secret voting – lawmakers moved chairs, toppled the Speaker’s table, pulled out mics and heckled Dhanapal.
DMK lawmakers led by MK Stalin sat down on the floor of the house and protested when the Speaker ordered their eviction.
Panneerselvam, who fought to stay Chief Minister after revolting against his party chief VK Sasikala, alleges that over 100 AIADMK lawmakers were held captive at a resort near Chennai and forced to support Palaniswami.