Govt, Oppn parties need to raise debate bar

Chennai: After a decade, the Tamil Nadu assembly has a respectable representation in the opposition, raising hope of meaningful debate in the House.
This is only the third time since 1967 that the main opposition party in the state has more than 50 MLAs in the assembly. The Congress, the principal opposition, had 51 MLAs in the 1967-1971 assembly, and the AIADMK had 61 members in the 2006-2011 assembly.
In the next assembly, 42% of the members will sit in the opposition, with the DMK accounting for a formidable 89 members.
"With such large numbers, the DMK may try to assert itself for its due space in the proceedings and their voice would be heard more often," political analyst S Kasinathan said.
Taking into account the DMK's strength, AIADMK could entrust the speaker's job to a senior member of the party. The Tamil Nadu assembly has a respectable past of healthy debate. Once former chief minister C N Annadurai said the opposition's behaviour in the assembly depended much on how the ruling party treated the opposition.
Many smaller parties in the hustings charged both the Dravidian majors with having no respect for democratic processes. But the electorate rejected their charges and voted in favour of a bi-polar polity. Keeping in mind the expectations of the people who have reinforced their faith in them, the ruling party and the principal opposition need to raise the bar in upholding democratic principles, analysts said.
Both the DMK and AIADMK have in the past faced accusations of stifling the voice of the opposition in the assembly. This is why the DMK will have to work like a meaningful opposition party and AIADMK should deviate from the past and make room for healthy debate.
Going by his earlier charge that the assembly hall is not disabled-friendly, M Karunanidhi, who is wheelchair-bound, is not expected to attend proceedings regularly.