Chennai : P Dhanapal and Pollachi V Jayaraman were unanimously re-elected as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, Protem Speaker S Semmalai said since Mr Dhanapal was the only nominee who had filed for the post, he was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 15th Tamil Nadu Assembly.

His name was proposed by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Finance Minister
and Leader of the House O Panneerselvam.

Later, as per the Assembly tradition and norms the Leader of the House and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin (DMK) conducted Mr Dhanapal to his chair.

Later, Mr Dhanapal announced that Pollachi V Jayaraman was unanimously elected as the Deputy Speaker as his was the only nomination filed for the post.

Both Mr Dhanapal and Jayaram had served as Speaker and Deputy Speaker during the 2011-16 AIADMK regime.

While Mr Dhanapal was re-elected to the Assembly from Avinashi (Reserved) constituency for sixth term, Mr Jayaraman was re-elected as MLA from Pollachi seat for fourth term.

After the elections, Mr Panneerselvam, Mr Stalin, Congress Legislature Party Leader K R Ramasamy and IUML leader Abu Bucker offered their felicitations to the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker and promised to extend their full
cooperation and maintain the dignity and decorum of the House.

The Opposition party leaders said they would discharge their duties as a constructive Opposition putting forth the people’s problems in the House and appealed to the Speaker to treat both the ruling party and the Opposition party
members neutrally.

Offering her felicitations, Ms Jayalalithaa said she was immensely happy that Mr Dhanapal was re-elected as Speaker for the second successive term.

She was doubly happy that Mr Dhanapal was the first Speaker to be re-elected unanimously for a second successive term.

She also pointed out after a gap of 32 years, the AIADMK was the first party to retain power winning the elections for a second successive term, a feat achieved by Party Founder MGR in 1984.

While assuring her fullest cooperation in maintaining and fostering democratic traditions in the Assembly, Ms Jayalalithaa also appealed to the Opposition party members to realise their duties and responsibilities and putforth their views which would be beneficial to the people.

Ms Jayalalithaa said she has no doubt that Mr Dhanapal would discharge his duties as Speaker in a neutral manner and also offered her felicitations to Mr Jayaraman on his re-election as the Deputy Speaker.