In a representation submitted to Mr. Rao, Mr. Stalin, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, urged him to “nullify the entire proceedings” to “protect the spirit of democracy and the Constitution“. Mr. Stalin in a statement said his party would stage the hunger strike from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on February 22 and condemned the adoption of trust vote after eviction of his party members. Mr. Palaniswami won the trust vote by a 122-11 margin after the eviction of DMK members and walkout by its allies, amid stormy scenes during which mikes were uprooted, chairs toppled and sheets of papers torn and hurled around. Immediately after the eviction of the DMK, Mr. Stalin had met the Governor and urged him to postpone the trust vote. “I do not accept it as the Leader of Opposition in Assembly and as their party’s Working President,” Mr. Stalin said.

Source: The Hindu February 19, 2017 11:26 UTC