CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Wednesday received well wishes and bouquets from his supporters as well as an opposition legislator who faced the wrath of his fellow party members in the assembly.

Attending the assembly for the first time after his promotion, Stalin was greeted by leaders of his DMK party and the Congress soon after he entered the assembly.

However, trouble arouse when comedian-turned-politician S. Ve. Shekhar, who had remained in the house when his colleagues had walked out, decided to congratulate Stalin, son of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

That prompted other AIADMK members to return to the house. They urged Speaker R. Avudaiyappan that Shekhar should not be allowed to speak as he was no more with the party.

Coming in support of Shekhar were senior ministers Duraimurugan, Ponmudy and Arcot N. Veeraswami.

This house is not the place to discuss who is inside or outside a party. It is only the speaker who has the power to decide who would speak in the assembly, argued Duraimurugan.

When Deputy Leader of Opposition O. Paneerselvam argued that the party whip had special powers to correct a legislator if he speaks anything wrong, Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said only the speaker has the power to alter a members speech.

As Speaker Avudaiyappan did not yield to their demands, the AIADMK members, barring Shekhar, walked out again.

Shekhar later said: In a democratic society having alternative views is important.”

He said: I am elected to this house under the two-leaves symbol (of AIADMK). I am sure my leader Jayalalitha would not have sanctioned such a behaviour of by party legislators inside the house.

Shekhar also requested the speaker to take note of a threat to his life issued by his party legislator Kalairajan if he spoke in the house again.

Kalairajan clarified that he had not threatened Shekher. He also asked the speaker to strike out Shekhars complaint from the records.

As the request was not entertained, AIADMK members once again protested.