‘Karunanidhi’s support to Vijayakant opportunitism’

DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s statement in support of Leader of Opposition A. Vijayakant is the “height of political opportunitism,” Tamil Nadu assembly Speaker D.Jayakumar said Wednesday.

In a statement here, Jayakumar condemned Karunanidhi’s statement on the 10-day suspension of Vijayakant, the founder of DMDK, from the assembly.

Vijayakant was suspended last Thursday (Feb 2), a day after a bitter exchange of words in the assembly with Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and a walkout by his DMDK party members.

Reacting to the suspension, Karunanidhi said the action is undemocratic.

Jayakumar said the action against Vijayakant was on the recommendations of the Privileges Committee after viewing the video footage of the assembly proceedings Feb 1.

He said the Privileges Committee comprising of members from DMK, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India and others was unanimous that Vijayakant’s action was contrary to traditions of the house.

Jayakumar said Vijayakant was given a chance to represent his case before the Privileges Committee, but he rejected the opportunity.