In an unusual action, Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu assembly Vijaykanth was on Thursday suspended for 10 days for breach of privilege during a heated exchange with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Speaker D Jayakumar's action against the actor-politician came a day after he and his Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam MLAs were evicted en masse capping an acrimonious exchange with Jayalalithaa.
As the House met for the day, Jayakumar announced Vijaykanth's suspension on recommendations of the privileges committee. This led to spontaneous protests by DMDK members who shouted slogans and walked out after their demand for a discussion on it went unheeded.
Members of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Left parties, who were also part of the AIADMK-led alliance, also walked out charging the Jayalalithaa government with being "dictatorial".
The House adopted a resolution moved by finance minister and leader of the House O Pannerselvam after the privileges committee report was tabled.
The other members of DMDK did not face any action, the Speaker said, adding they would not be spared if they persist with such behaviour.
Hitting back at Jayalalithaa, Vijaykanth told mediapersons outside the House, "Even I am ashamed of this alliance. I was never for the alliance, but for the desire of my party cadre."
There were many AIADMK members who had pushed him for the alliance with DMDK. "It's because of their alliance with us, they came to power... they forgot and are ungrateful," the founder leader of DMDK said.
Referring to AIADMK's short lived tie-up with BJP as an NDA allay during its 13-month rule, he recalled A B Vajpayee's quote, "I am going to have a good sleep" after his government fell due to withdrawal of support by Jayalalithaa.
"I thought Jayalalithaa has changed, but she is not," said Vijaykanth, whose party had contested the civic elections last year on its own, virtually indicating parting of the ways between the two allies.
Asserting that he would continue to take up issues concerning people, Viijaykanth said, "We will come to power in the next polls."
Noting that the law-and-order situation in the state was not 'appreciative' he said it would not be necessary for Jayalalithaa to have 'Z Plus' category security, if law and order was in good shape.
Criticising the suspension of leader of the opposition, DMK members, including M K Stalin said, "Rules say the recommendations of the privileges committee should be kept for discussion by leaders of the parties. But, notwithstanding that rule, the Speaker had ordered (the suspension) in a dictatorial manner."
