Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Travesty of democracy” (February 20). The first round in the battle of the throne in Tamil Nadu has gone to VK Sasikala, with her appointee Edappadi K Palaniswami becoming the Chief Minister. The Speaker’s refusal to accede to the Opposition’s plea for a secret ballot ruled out any chance rebel O Panneerselvam had of staging a come-back, by invoking the MlAs ‘conscience’.
The reason why the DMK created a ruckus in the Assembly was to camouflage its humiliation and political failure and divert public attention. The strong-arm tactics resorted to by the DMK leaders in the House heralded a new low in the State’s recent political history.