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Did fear of Art 356 force extension of TN assembly?

Has the current budget session of the Tamil Nadu assembly been extended till May 29 out of the fear that the Centre will invoke Article 356 to dismiss the state government?

This question was raised by All India Anna DMK member R Thamaraikani when Chief Minister M Karunanidhi suggested that the discussion on the demand for grants for the housing department scheduled for Wednesday afternoon be taken up on some other day.

When Deputy Speaker Parithi Ilamvazhuthi sought the opinion of Opposition leaders on this suggestion, Thamaraikani said the session, which was to have come to end on May 15, had been extended till May 29 after dispensing with the evening sessions.

The AIADMK member claimed that doubts lurk in the minds of the public whether this extension was made out of the fear that Article 356 might be invoked.

"There is a notion that the Centre would not dismiss a state government when the assembly was in session."

Karunanidhi, responding to Thamaraikani, declared that "it (the government) will continue and one need not worry" amid thumping of desks by ruling party members.

The business advisory committee had decided to extend the session till May 29 after M R Chokkar (Tamil Maanila Congress) demanded that evening sessions could be dispensed with to enable members to attend to the grievances of the people of their constituencies.

UNI

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