Suspended DMK lawmakers staged a protest outside the Tamil Nadu assembly.
Starting today, TV journalists may not be seen reporting form the assembly complex in Chennai after Tamil Nadu government said to have banned live coverage. But what's missing is a communique.
"The instruction came from senior police officers," said a senior officer who did not want to be quoted, adding, "We are helpless. From now on, for reporting, only the Chief Minister's address we would allow live equipment".
All 80 DMK legislators, who were suspended last week by the Speaker for unruly behavior, have been grabbing headlines with their protests outside the assembly complex demanding revocation of their week long suspension. On Friday, they even conducted a 'model assembly' outside. Official sources cite this as a possible reason for Jayalalithaa's government new directive.
"There's a sense that any live coverage of the DMK protest tomorrow would overshadow the Chief Minister's address," said another official requesting anonymity.
On Wednesday, the Speaker handed a week long suspension to DMK legislators who were demanding an alleged derogatory word by an AIADMK MLA against MK Stain be expunged.
The state government has stopped live coverage of the assembly proceedings as well. Leader of Opposition MK Stalin said, "We reiterate our demand for live telecast. Live coverage will help people understand what actually happens in the assembly".
Journalists associations have said they would adhere to directive on Monday and then take it up with the state government for the lack of an official communication.
During the campaign ahead of the recent assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK did not allow live coverage of the address by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. News organisations wanting to cover the event live were asked to cut to Jaya TV, the party's mouthpiece.
The AIADMK government has also filed a series of defamation cases against news organisations, journalists and politicians. Although Ms Jayalalithaa had promised to meet the press every week when she assumed office in 2011, but over the last five years, she has met the press just a few times.
The chief minister has not spoken to the press at all since May after she formed her new government following electoral victory.