CHENNAI: Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has summoned every TVK MLA to Chennai for a consultative meeting on Wednesday, to discuss an alleged assault by the Deputy Speaker and the situation in Kallakurichi district, amid signs that the party leadership will read the MLAs a lesson in discipline.
The meeting is expected at the party headquarters in Panaiyur, led by Vijay and Minister N Anand.
The summons followed reports that a man allegedly assaulted by Deputy Speaker Ravi Shankar was admitted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchirappalli, and has alleged he was threatened and forced to record a video withdrawing his complaint.
Karthik Kumar, a resident of Kannabiran Colony in Thuraiyur, said he had repeatedly approached the municipal administration about the lack of basic amenities in his locality without result. On Diwali evening, he said, he saw Ravi Shankar's car parked in Mannachanallur, approached him about the problems, and was abused, assaulted, kicked and chased away.
The DMK seized on the allegation. Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said the man had probably raised an issue that should have been handled by the minister or the local MLA: "But how could he possibly question a TVK MLA? He couldn't and he has no right to question a TVK MLA. They are kings, not democratically elected representatives. Perhaps that is why he was beaten."
The Deputy Speaker has not publicly responded to the allegation and could not be reached for comment.
(With inputs from media reports)