As both Houses of Parliament adjourned on Tuesday without taking up any business, and the no-confidence motions moved by various parties could not be taken up in the Lok Sabha, the AIADMK, which was the lone party raised commotion, drew the flak from the Opposition.

The Opposition parties alleged that the AIADMK was being ‘managed’ by the Centre to avoid a discussion on the performance of Narendra Modi-led government.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, who is in Delhi, accused the BJP of “managing” the AIADMK.

“It is crystal clear that the Opposition wants a discussion and they (the BJP) have managed one party to disrupt and not allow the House to function,” said Banerjee. “I have the utmost respect for the late Jayalalithaa ji . Had she been alive, she would have never allowed her party to be managed by the Centre in this manner,” she added.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the Centre is responsible for the ruckus as it does not want a discussion on its rule. He told reporters that the AIADMK’s agitation was sponsored by the government. “The Speaker was claiming that she could not count members as there was ruckus in the Well. Today, for her convenience we got placards showing the strength of more than 80 MPs. If the no-confidence motion is taken up, the government will be exposed and it will hurt its image as foreign and economic policies, and other issues will be taken up,” he said.

Fear of President’s rule?

The AIADMK, however, refuted the charges. “Let all the parties take a minute to support the cause of Tamil Nadu (of constituting the Cauvery Water Board) and we will consider changing our stand,” Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan told BusinessLine.

There are differences among MPs belonging to the camps of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy, O Panneerselvam. A senior MP in the CM’s camp told BusinessLine that the AIADMK is under pressure from the Centre. “Leaders fear that Centre will impose President’s rule as the party is divided into two camps. We are not in a position to face an election now,” the leader added.

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