After 80 DMK MLAs were suspended by the Speaker of the TN Assembly earlier this week, the agitated MLAs decided to take matters into their own hands and conducted a mock assembly session outside the TN Assembly.
Police were deployed at the mock Assembly where Durai Murugan was the acting speaker. "Deivame" (Oh Lord) went the cries of praise that Durai Murugan received from the DMK MLAs as he passed around a mike, assuring each member a say.
They were mocking the AIADMK’s MLA sycophancy towards J Jayalalithaa. Durai Murugan also mocked P Dhanapal’s mannerisms and speech, causing many to break into laughter.
K Ponmudi played the role of the Chief Minister, assuring each MLA of action after they spoke.
This is not the first time that the DMK has resorted to this measure. Along with the CPM, DMK’s K. Ponmudi led an 85-strong brigade, demanding the “dictatorial” Jayalalithaa government’s “resignation” for cutting short the session to eight days in 2004.
At the time of the 2004 mock session, Durai Murugan sought a clarification from the “Speaker” because the “Assembly inside has no Opposition and the Assembly outside has no ruling party”.
On Wednesday, TN Assembly speaker Dhanapal suspended 80 DMK members including Stalin for a week for unruly behaviour in the House.
On Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, DMK's M.K. Stalin, and other lawmakers of DMK held a sit-in protest at the entrance of the assembly as they were not allowed to enter their chambers.