Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday referred to the history of the British parliamentary system and highlighted the importance of democratic traditions while addressing the Assembly after the election of the new Speaker, reported IANS.
Vijay made the remarks after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA J. C. D. Prabhakar was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Addressing members in the House, the Chief Minister spoke about the historical role of Speakers in the British Parliament during the monarchy era and the risks they faced while communicating Parliament’s decisions to the King, reported IANS.
Vijay recalls historical role of Speakers in British Parliament
Vijay said Speakers in England had the responsibility of informing the monarch whenever Parliament rejected proposals placed before it.
According to him, during earlier periods of monarchy, Speakers often faced severe consequences for conveying Parliament’s stand to the King because rulers held extensive powers, including the authority to order executions.
The Chief Minister also referred to the parliamentary tradition in which newly elected Speakers symbolically hesitate before occupying the chair and are escorted to their seat by leaders from both the ruling side and the opposition, reported IANS.
He said the practice continues even today as a representation of democratic values and institutional respect within parliamentary systems.
CM quotes Abraham Lincoln while speaking on democracy
During his address, Vijay described the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as the “heart of democracy” and stressed the importance of preserving legislative traditions, reported IANS.
The Chief Minister quoted former US President Abraham Lincoln’s famous definition of democracy as a government “of the people, by the people and for the people”.
He assured full cooperation from all TVK legislators to the Speaker and said even parties with limited representation in the Assembly should receive equal importance and opportunities in the House.
According to Vijay, every legislator in the Assembly must be treated equally irrespective of party strength, and democratic norms should remain protected during legislative proceedings, reported IANS.
TVK leaders elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker unopposed
Earlier in the day, TVK MLA J.C.D. Prabhakar, who represents the Thousand Lights constituency, was elected Speaker of the Assembly without opposition.
Similarly, TVK legislator M. Ravi Shankar, representing the Thuraiyur constituency, was elected Deputy Speaker unopposed.
Both leaders had filed their nominations on Monday on behalf of the ruling TVK.
As no opposition party fielded candidates for either post, Prabhakar and Ravi Shankar were declared elected when the Assembly convened on Tuesday.
Assembly leaders escort new Speaker to chair
Following Assembly convention, Leader of the House Sengottaiyan and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin escorted Prabhakar to the Speaker’s chair after his election.
Members from both the ruling benches and opposition parties congratulated the newly elected Speaker during the proceedings.
The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker marks one of the first major legislative developments since the TVK government assumed office in Tamil Nadu following the recent Assembly elections.
(With inputs from IANS)