Chennai: The first session of the State Assembly, beginning on Monday, January 6, is expected to be a stormy one as it has to start with the customary Governor’s Address at a time when the main opposition AIADMK was out to put the government on the mat by escalating the controversy that it had kicked up over the alleged rape of an engineering student inside the main campus of the Anna University at Guindy on December 23.
Though the AIADMK had raised concerns over women’s safety in the State citing the sexual assault as a glaring example and gone to town with posters asking ‘Who is that Sir?’ by referring to statement of the rape victim that the assailant had threatened her that she would have to meet a ‘Sir,’ sources said that the party might seek to gain maximum political mileage by raising the issue in the floor of the House.
Another concern is over the behaviour of Governor R N Ravi, who, according to norms, would have to read out the Governor Address prepared by the State Government. Since the Governor did not adhere to the text prepared by the Government in 2024 but vomited key passages and added his own passages, the ruling party adopted a resolution to include in the Assembly records only the original text prepared by the government.
The incident created a kerfuffle as the Governor stormed out of the House without waiting for the playing of the national anthem, triggering a debate over his behavior and some pointing out that when the Governor was inside the House it was not proper to pass a resolution. This year the government does not want such a situation to arise.
But since the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of Anna University, had visited the campus after the rape incident came to light and spoken to students and other officials, besides meeting the leaders of opposition parties when they raised the issue through statements, agitations and media conferences, how Ravi would act in the Assembly has become a subject of speculation.
It is in such a volatile situation, the House would meet on Monday and with the AIADMK determined to rake up the rape incident that had already been thoroughly politicized through the charge that the culprit, Gnanasekaran, had links with ruling party leaders, including Ministers, it could lead to pandemonium in the House.
Already various opposition party leaders had raised doubts over the government’s commitment to bring Gnanasekaran to book and had openly accused the police of trying to protect him. So, it could lead to heated discussions on the floor of the House with the opposition benches even trying to obstruct the proceedings.
