Chennai: Opposition leader Udhayanidhi on Monday said that ‘Sanatana’, which he described as dividing people, must be abolished. He made the remarks while speaking in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
The House on May 12 elected JCD Prabhakar as Speaker, with MLAs extending greetings to him and to Deputy Speaker Ravishankar. Udhayanidhi and Minister Sengottaiyan were among those who escorted the Speaker to the chair.
In his address, Udhayanidhi congratulated the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, noting the Speaker’s prior experience as an MLA and familiarity with Assembly traditions and rules. He said there was an expectation that the Speaker would conduct proceedings in a neutral manner and accommodate the opposition.
He also called for political civility to continue inside the House, referring to the Chief Minister’s visits to party leaders’ homes to receive greetings. Udhayanidhi said his party would function not merely as an opposition, but as a constructive one, and urged both sides to work together for Tamil Nadu’s development.
Highlighting the Assembly’s role in shaping Tamil Nadu’s progress through debates, laws and resolutions, he appealed for space for healthy, constructive discussions and for democratic values to be upheld during the new term.
