Tamil Nadu Speaker allows Minister to raise question during Question Hour
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker permits Agriculture Minister to ask a question during Question Hour on Mahamaham festival preparations, despite procedural norms.
In an unusual departure from standard procedure, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on Monday permitted Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth to raise a question during Question Hour. The query pertained to preparations for the Mahamaham festival scheduled to be held in Kumbakonam in 2028.
DMK member E.V. Velu raised a point about the permissibility of a Minister asking a question during this session. The Speaker acknowledged that while this was not part of the Assembly's established procedure, he chose to allow it given the significance of the event in question. He further indicated that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister could respond if willing.
HR&CE Minister Ramesh stated that a meeting had already been held with the District Collector and other officials to discuss the festival's arrangements. He noted that the Heritage Committee had inspected temples in connection with the upcoming kumbabishekam and assured that the government would expedite the necessary works. The festival is expected to draw devotees from across the world.
In another notable occurrence, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay left his designated seat to sit alongside other Ministers, including the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, to observe the proceedings. This marks the second time the Chief Minister has done so during recent Assembly sessions.