Short session only a formality: DMDK

Chennai: Irked over the short duration of the winter session of the Assembly, DMDK legislators led by their chief Vijayakanth, who is also Leader of the Opposition, will decide about participating in the session on Thursday morning.

DMDK whip V.C. Chandrakumar told DC that the Captain had convened the party MLAs meeting at the party headquarters in Koyambedu at 9 am to hear the views of the party legislators on taking part in the three-day-long session.

"We asked them to hold the session for 10 days. When they did not agree, we asked them to hold it for a week, if not, at least five days. None of our requests was considered. Hence, we registered our protest at the meeting even as DMK members staged a walkout," he said.

Pointing out that there was no scope to debate any of the burning issues, like construction of a dam across the Cauvery by the Karnataka government and the Mullaiperiyar issue, he said that the opportunity to debate issues was available only on one day (December 8).

"The short sessions appear only a formality. There is no opportunity to discuss several issues. A decision will be taken on whether to participate or not at a meeting to be chaired by party president Vijayakanth," he said.

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