The Assembly today witnessed heated exchange between the treasury and opposition benches, over the reservation for women in civic bodies.

During the debate on demands for grants for Social Welfare department, DMK member Geetha Jeevan made some claims about the earlier DMK regime.

When Social Welfare Minister V. Saroja intervened, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly M.K. Stalin pointed out that the Chief Minister said there would be no interventions by Ministers if MLAs did not raise questions to them.

To this, Minister D Jayakumar said Saroja intervened only because Geetha gave a wrong information. Later, Stalin and Ministers Jayakumar and S P Velumani argued over who provided reservation to women in local body posts. The Ministers said that Jayalalithaa, who initially paved way for 33 per cent reservation, has now increased it to 50 per cent.