Monday, January 23 2006 15:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Pandemonium prevailed in the Tamil Nadu assembly for nearly 15 minutes today over certain remarks made by the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief, M Karunanidhi, which ultimately led to the eviction of all DMK men from the house and even from the lobby later.

After 'naming' a few DMK members, the Speaker, K Kalimuthu, directed the watch and ward staff to evict the legislators, who rushed to the well of the house in protest.

Ignoring the chair's directives, the DMK legislators continued to shout inside the house. The watch and ward staff ultimately directed them out of the house.

Once outside the assembly hall, the DMK legislators continued to shout from the lobby, raising slogans against the Speaker.

Kalimuthu then ordered their eviction even from the lobby, following which they trooped out.

Supporting their ally, members of the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Communist Party of India CPI) Marxist (M) and the CPI also walked out of the house. However, after a few minutes, barring the DMK, others returned to the house to participate in the debate on the interim-budget.

The trouble began immediately after question hour, when Sekhar Babu of the AIADMK, rising on a point of order, drew the government's attention to Karunanidhi's visit to the Raj Bhavan on Saturday last, accompanied by Union Minister, Dayanidhi Maran.

Giving a lengthy reply, Jayalalithaa said Karunanidhi made the visit 'clandestinely' to scuttle the government's decision to take over Sumangali Cable Vision owned by his family, triggering protests.