Jaya, Stalin, Karuna sworn in as MLAs

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M Karunanidhi and MK Stalin were on Wednesday sworn in as MLAs in the 15th Tamil Nadu Assembly, which met for its first session under pro-tem Speaker S Semmalai.

Jayalalithaa, representing R K Nagar constituency, was the first to be sworn in after the House met and Semmalai initiated the proceedings.

The Chief Minister was sworn in the name of God followed by her ministers including, her trusted lieutenant O Pannerselvam. After the ministers, DMK leader MK Stalin, who is set to take over as Leader of the Opposition, took oath in the name of his conscience followed by former Speaker and Deputy Speaker P Dhanapal and V Jayaraman. Later, Karunanidhi, who has contested for the thirteenth successive term, was sworn in. He was also sworn in the name of his conscience.

Earlier Jayalalithaa, Stalin and Karunanidhi were received by thumping of the desks by AIADMK and DMK members when they entered the House. While most of the AIADMK MLAs took oath in the name of God, DMK members did the same in the name of conscience.

For a second time in five years, the ruling AIADMK has lost one of its legislators on the day of swearing-in of newly elected MLAs to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. SM Seenivel, who was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from Tirupparankundram constituency, died of stroke, bringing back memories of an AIADMK Minister who passed away in 2011 when he was rushing to Chennai for the swearing-in of MLAs. AIADMK leader N Mariam Pitchai was killed in a road accident hours before the swearing-in of the members of the 14th Assembly in 2011.