Assembly rescinds decision to revive Legislative Council

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI, SEPT. 12. The Assembly today passed a resolution rescinding the earlier decision to revive the Legislative Council, but not before the ruling AIADMK faced some discomfort on account of opposition from allies such as the TMC and the INL.

The resolution was carried by 150 votes to 27 with three abstentions, but the requisite two-third majority was achieved thanks to the TMC members who quietly slipped out of the House to save the Government any embarrassment.

The PMK members also walked out, but unlike the TMC, they announced that the walk-out was to condemn the Government for giving up the move to revive the council. Only the DMK and its ally, BJP, opposed the resolution.

The TMC leader, Mr. S. R. Balasubramaniam, opposing the resolution, dwelt at length on the merits of the council, which, he said, could provide `more light than heat' during debates. It provided for functional representation to teachers, graduates and representatives of local bodies.

It also could give intellectuals and eminent personalities an opportunity to present their views to the Government. The Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, however, countered this argument, saying the Government could appoint such persons as advisors or as members of the Planning Commission. There was no need to revive the council for the Government to avail itself of their expertise.

Mr. Balasubramaniam pointed out that several leaders, including Rajaji, Anna, A. L. Mudaliar and MGR, had been members of the council. Ms. Jayalalithaa herself had served as a member of the Upper House of Parliament.

To this, Ms. Jayalalithaa clarified that she had wanted to be elected directly to the Lok Sabha or the Assembly, but MGR insisted on her contest for the Rajya Sabha.

Noting that the council issue was being discussed the fifth time now (after 1986, 1989, 1991 and 1996), Mr. Balasubramaniam said the House had alternately decided to abolish and revive the council. The issue should not be reduced to a game of `ping-pong' with the ball being hit from one end to another, he said.

To this, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that now after the AIADMK Government's `ping', the people would not allow a `pong' (meaning the DMK would not return to power).

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. K. Anbazhagan, made a forceful plea for revival of the council, saying the point to be considered was not the expenditure involved in maintaining the council, but its usefulness. The council provided a forum for members to speak without adopting any particular party line, he said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the second chamber was envisaged only as an `experimental measure'. There was no dearth of talented people in the Assembly. The Upper House was meant for providing representation to the upper classes. The DMK, blindly pursuing its policy of opposition to whatever the AIADMK did, consistently tried to revive the council.

The INL member, Mr. Abdul Latheef, an ally of the AIADMK, also voiced his reservations over the resolution, saying the Government had not specified the reasons for not reviving the council. If the reasons were political expediency, then, as any ally, he would support the resolution. Otherwise, the Government must state the reasons, he said.

The Chief Minister, however, clarified that there was no `hidden motive' in bringing forward the resolution. The party was following the line adopted by MGR.

The PMK leader, Mr. G.K. Mani, said the council could ensure the election of eminent persons to the legislature.

The other allies of the AIADMK, the CPI leader, Mr. G. Palanichamy, the CPI(M) member, Mr. D. Mony, and the AIFB MLA, Mr. L. Santhanam, supported the resolution. The MGR-ADMK member, Mr. S. Austin, and the independent, Mr. M. Appavoo, along with Mr. Latheef, abstained from the voting.

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