Tamil Nadu Minister S Keerthana could not take oath as an MLA in the state Assembly on Monday as she did not submit her election certificate, a prerequisite for taking oath, an official said.
When the Principal Secretary of the Association, K. Srinivasan, Keerthana, announcing her name into the microphone, to take the oath, walked to the podium, which was directly in front of the Prime Minister’s chair on one side. Also, the MLAs who take the oath will face the professional speaker’s chair.
As Keerthana approached the podium, Srinivasan raised his hand and asked her to testify, which could be seen in the live coverage of the association’s proceedings.
However, she was unable to give evidence and it is not known what she replied to Srinivasan.
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When asked what happened, an official told PTI: “It appears that she did not have her election certificate with her easily. Since she could not submit the certificate, the senior official politely refused to allow her to take the oath. She may take the oath when she submits her election certificate.”
The MLAs have been told to bring their certificates without fail and the government has even clarified this in a press note, the official said.
When Velachery TVK legislator R. Kumar was about to take oath after giving testimony, Srinivasan stopped him. He pointed out to Kumar that the certificate submitted by him bore the name of another person.
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It later emerged that Kumar brought the certificate of his party colleague sitting next to him and gave it to Srinivasan.
Kumar immediately returned to his seat, brought his election certificate and gave it to Srinivasan. Kumar got the colleague’s certificate from the official and returned it to the party man, who is also an MLA. Later, the official allowed Kumar to take oath.
Kumar won by 33,305 votes from Velachery, defeating his closest rival in the AIADMK, M K Ashok. The Aassan Maulaana JMH Congress Party fell to third place.
All the MLAs, including Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, submitted their certificates first and then the officials asked them to take oath as per the Constitution.
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Keerthana was the last minister – the ninth in line in the Cabinet – to be invited to take oath.
She was elected from Sivakasi Assembly constituency defeating Ashokan Ji of the Congress party. She won by 11,670 votes. Former minister and AIADMK heavyweight KT Rajentrabhalaji has been pushed to the third position.
The current membership in TN Assembly is 233. Vijay won from Perambur and Tiruchi East and has resigned from Tiruchi East constituency.
