After several hours of high voltage drama at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, sitting CM Edappadi Palaniswami of the AIADMK won the Trust Vote with the support of 122 MLAs.
The House was adjourned twice during the day due to protests by the opposition parties. Mics and chairs were damaged and several members, including the Speaker, were roughed up during the ruckus. The DMK MLAs and their leader Stalin were forcibly evicted by marshals. The Congress MLAs staged a walk-out and the Trust Vote was eventually passed without the presence of the opposition MLAs.
Reacting to the news, actor Kamal Haasan tweeted that this was a "de-mockcrazy". He added sarcastically that the people of Tamil Nadu should welcome their MLAs with the respect they deserve back home.
There you go. Seems like we have another CM. Jai de-mockcrazy
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 18, 2017
People of Tamizhnadu, Welcome your respective MLAs with the respect they desrve back home
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 18, 2017
Actor and Congress spokesperson Khushbu tweeted that the strength of the democracy is the opposition and that winning the Trust Vote without one was "the opposite of democracy". She also said that it was difficult to "digest" that EPS would be the CM.
the strength of a democracy is the opposition. hr v c the opposition is evicted n u hve vote of trust which is exactly the opp.of democracy.
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) February 18, 2017
difficult to digest that #EPS retains his post.
— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) February 18, 2017
Actor Radikaa Sarathkumar called Palaniswami's victory a "disgrace" and said that the Governor should act.
Disgrace.Governer shld act.
— Radikaa Sarathkumar (@realradikaa) February 18, 2017
Singer Chinmayi retweeted a tweet that called the situation a "demockerycy".
World's largest Demockerycy
— Rahul Ravindran (@23_rahulr) February 18, 2017
Actor Arvind Swami, who has been vocal about the situation in Tamil Nadu, tweeted earlier in the day that it's a pity there's a "media blackout" of the Assembly. He also asked if we should feel happy or sad about undemocratic means being used to protect true democracy. He further said that only a re-election was acceptable and that this was not the people's mandate.
In my opinion, The only solution that is acceptable under the circumstances is a re- election. This is not the people's mandate.
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017
None will accept a vote of confidence if the MLAs don't represent the ppl's views. For that they have to meet people, not party in a resort
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017
It's a pity that there is a media blackout of the assembly sessions and only selective footage is released. Ppl have a right 2 c proceedings
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017
If true democracy can be protected in an undemocratic manner, are we to feel happy or sad? Is the million $ question. Opinions pl -
— arvind swami (@thearvindswami) February 18, 2017