Udhayanidhi Demands Live Telecast of TN Assembly Proceedings!
Udhayanidhi Demands Live Telecast of TN Assembly Proceedings!
Udhayanidhi Stalin urges Tamil Nadu Speaker for full live telecast of Assembly debates, citing lack of transparency. Is democracy being suppressed? Find out more!
Leader of the Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, has issued a strong appeal to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, demanding the live telecast of all State Assembly proceedings. In a letter dated Saturday, June 20, 2026, Udhayanidhi asserted that withholding live telecasts undermines the very purpose of convening the Assembly and disrespects the electorate. "Do not do anything that would insult the Assembly and its members," he emphasized.
Udhayanidhi highlighted a concerning inconsistency: while the debate on the resolution opposing the construction of a dam at Mekedatu was broadcast live, the telecast was abruptly discontinued when discussions on the Governor’s Address commenced. This is particularly salient as Udhayanidhi and other political leaders are scheduled to participate in the motion of thanks to the Governor’s Address on Monday, June 22.
He further pointed out that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had previously promised live telecasts of Assembly proceedings. However, Udhayanidhi alleged that this promise was not fully kept, as the discussion on the Governor’s Address was not aired live. He referenced Information Minister Rajmohan’s earlier claim that the Chief Minister had fulfilled his promise by resuming live telecasts, which the Minister stated had been blacked out for two to three years. Ironically, Udhayanidhi noted, the telecast was stopped on the very day this announcement was made.
Udhayanidhi criticized this selective broadcasting as contrary to the ruling party's promise, asserting that it "amounts to suppressing the voice of the people’s representatives and does not augur well for the dignity and decorum of the House." He also accused the ruling party of a more severe injustice: releasing edited versions of debates that exclusively favored their narrative. "It is an act of suppressing the freedom of expression of MLAs. It is not good for democracy," he stated, questioning whether such actions align with the "change" slogan that brought the current government to power. The call for transparency underscores growing concerns over parliamentary practices in the state.
