Floor test in absence of Opposition is undemocratic, Governor worked against Constitution: Congress

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Feb. 19 (ANI): Condemning the recent floor test conducted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in absence of the Opposition, former Union Minister and Congress leader M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday termed it as a 'black day' in the history of democracy and accused Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao for not functioning the Constitution. "It is most tragic for the democracy of this country. I would rather say it is a black day in the history of democracy. The recently sworn in Chief Minister has been asked by the Governor under the Constitution to take vote of confidence or a trust vote. Merely getting votes is not trust vote," Moily told ANI. Moily further accused Rao for the ruckus and said that the latter had failed to perform his duty as per the Constitution. "I think what he got is votes that are also doubtful, because ultimately it is for the governor to ensure the proper conducive atmosphere there. There is very thin margin with the people supporting the present chief minister that has been nominated by the governor." he said. Earlier on Saturday, AIADMK working president M.K. Stalin and other MLAs were detained by police for protesting against the floor test result at Chennai's Marina Beach. Amid the uproar in the Tami Nadu Assembly during Saturday's much-anticipated floor test, Palanisamy won the vote of confidence with 122 MLAs supporting him. The floor test took place in Block Two of the Tamil Nadu assembly. The Tamil Nadu assembly witnessed a huge ruckus earlier in the day during the floor test with DMK working president M.K. Stalin alleging that his shirt was torn off when the assembly police forcefully evicted his party MLAs and the Speaker tore of his shirt himself and blamed the MLAs of the DMK for it. "We were told that assembly will reconvene at 3 p.m., but at 2 p.m. police came and tried to forcefully evict us. My shirt was also torn," Stalin said. (ANI)