LAW AND ORDER, TAMIL ANTHEM ROW SET STAGE FOR STORMY ASSEMBLY

Chennai: Tamil Nadu assembly is set to witness a stormy session which begins on Thursday as DMK and TVK gear up to pin each other on law and order and state fiscal situation. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami too is expected to target TVK over Mekedatu and `poaching of MLAs.’The first day of the session would be closely watched for the Governor’s Address and its content, as the customary address had always been a bone of contention between the govt and Lok Bhavan during DMK regime. This is the first full session of TVK govt.The litmus test for TVK govt, would commence even before the assembly session starts as there are questions on whether Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu would be played first, ahead of the customary Governor’s address.

The previous DMK govt had confrontations with then Governor R N Ravi, who walked out of the Assembly after objecting to the Tamil invocation being played before the National Anthem.TVK govt had faced backlash during the swearing in of chief minister C Joseph Vijay on May 10 when Vande Mataram was played first, followed by National Anthem, pushing Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu to third position. Back then TVK leaders had said governor R V Arlekar was keen on following the Union govt’s direction of playing Vande Mataram first, followed by the National Anthem.

The same sequence was followed during the swearing-in of other ministers as well.

Responding to criticisms, PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna said the Tamil anthem would be played first at all state govt functions hereafter.The new govt is also expected to face sharp attacks from the DMK and AIADMK over law and order. DMK president M K Stalin on Wednesday held a meeting with party MLAs and asked them to function as a `strong opposition,’ in the assembly.

Hold the govt accountable on key issues, especially law and order, he told them.AIADMK MLAs too said they would corner TVK on the white paper over state finances, non – release of Mettur water for kuruvai cultivation and `failure’ to fulfil the poll promise of total loan waiver for farmer.``EPS has instructed us to utilise every opportunity to expose TVK govt’s failures, especially on the law and order front,’’ said an AIADMK leader.