Chennai: Principal opposition party, the DMK and its allies the Congress and the IUML, on Monday applied pressure on the government, boycotting the governor’s inaugural address to the assembly, seeking an immediate floor test so that the minority government was exposed.

The governor Banwarilal Purohit had only just begun his address, when the opposition benches launched into throaty protests questioning the legitimacy of the ‘minority government’ to be in office. After creating a ruckus for few minutes, DMK working president MK Stalin led the opposition walk out from the assembly.

Independent MLA TTV Dhinakaran watched the drama unfold with an amused smile on his face even as the governor rushed through his speech. DMK leader Stalin said that there must be an immediate floor test to that the government proved its majority on the floor of the house, especially after some of its MLAs gave in writing that they were not supporting the government and wanted a change in its leadership.

Eighteen AIADMK MLAs were disqualified by speaker P Dhanpal during the previous session, a decision which was challenged in the Madras High Court, which is hearing the matter.

Stalin later told media persons that “the government was in minority and no right to rule even for a single day and it must prove its strength.”

It is sad that the governor had refused to intervene despite several pleas by the opposition for a floor test.

Leader of DMK’s ally Congress, Vijayadharini, criticised the governor for running a parallel administration and wanted him to concentrate instead on protecting the constitution and see that a minority government did not continue in office.