Tamil Nadu Assembly Erupts Over Six Vacant Seats; Palaniswami's Mic Switched Off Amid Heated Exchange

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly saw heated exchanges on August 25 during the debate on demands for grants for the Natural Resources, Industries, Information Technology and Digital Services departments, which also cover Artificial Intelligence initiatives, after the discussion turned to the six Assembly constituencies that have had no elected MLA since their previous representatives resigned.

DMK MLA S. Austin asked the government whom residents of the six constituencies should approach with their grievances in the absence of a sitting legislator. Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan replied that the government had appointed ministers-in-charge for all six constituencies and that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had taken steps to ensure public grievances were heard, though Austin maintained that several problems remained unresolved.

Sengottaiyan said the government too was keen to hold by-elections in the six seats at the earliest, adding "there is no alternative to holding elections." His remarks drew strong protests from AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and other party members, triggering a heated verbal exchange in the House.

Tensions escalated further after Palaniswami's microphone was allegedly switched off as he continued to press his point loudly; the Speaker rose from his chair and asked whether the House was being treated like a public meeting, before order was restored.