Stalin immediately dashed off to the Raj Bhavan to meet

Hyderabad Feb 18 : The Governor and complain about the incidents.Tight security was in place outside the Assembly to prevent any untoward incident in the wake of the do or die battle for the pro-Sasikala government.When the Assembly met for the day, Speaker P Dhanapal assured the members that they would be provided proper security.

The Assembly witnessed unruly scenes with the opposition members insisting on a secret vote and wanting MLAs to be allowed to visit their constituencies and meet the people before they cast their vote.This was, however, rejected by the Speaker who went on with the Floor Test when the House reassembled at 3 pm.

Claiming majority support, Panneerselvam, who had claimed he was forced to resign as chief minister, had met the Governor twice earlier during the month.Just hours ahead of the voting, the Palaniswami camp received a jolt when Coimbatore North MLA Arun Kumar left saying he would abstain from voting.

Yesterday, MLA from Mylpore constituency here, R Nataraj had said he would vote against the chief minister's motion of confidence.Ailing DMK supremo M Karunanidhi did not attend the proceedings.The floor test in the Assembly was the first such exercise in the state in about 30 years.Panneerselvam had vowed to continue his fight against Sasikala and her family "till the time Amma (Jayalalithaa) regime is restored.