The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed intense drama when the AIADMK orchestrated an Opposition walkout, accusing the ruling DMK of stifling debate and demanding Chief Minister M K Stalin’s resignation over alleged law and order failures. The walkout occurred after the Speaker denied a discussion on the state’s law and order situation requested by Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami. AIADMK members, along with BJP and PMK representatives, protested against what they perceived as an effort to silence public concerns.
The Opposition’s protest unfolded during a turbulent start to the 2026 session, which had earlier been disrupted by the Governor’s departure. Governor R. N. Ravi exited without delivering the customary address, insisting on the National Anthem after Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, a request rejected by the government citing Assembly tradition. In the Governor’s absence, the House passed a resolution proposed by the Chief Minister, designating the undelivered address’s English text as the official one.
Outside the Assembly, Palaniswami criticized the DMK government, drawing from the Governor’s address document. He alleged that promised investments of Rs 12 lakh crore had not materialized, causing Tamil Nadu’s industrial investment ranking to drop from fourth to sixth place. Referring to official data, he claimed a 33% surge in sexual harassment cases, with minors constituting 55% of POCSO cases, nearly 2,000 drug-related suicides, and increased atrocities against Scheduled Castes. Palaniswami also highlighted educational institution vacancies and ongoing government employee protests, asserting a complete breakdown of law and order under the DMK’s governance.
According to Palaniswami, the AIADMK had effectively maintained law and order during its tenure, implying that the Chief Minister lacked the moral authority to continue in office due to governance failures, warranting his resignation.
