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NT Bureau
Chennai, May 15:
 

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi chairing the Cabinet meeting at the Secretarait today.

        In fulfillment of a longtime demand to build a modern Legislative Assembly complex, the DMK government has decided to build the new Assembly in the Omandurar Government Estate here. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today at the Secretariat.

        At the end of the meeting, a resolution was passed to house the Assembly on the sprawling government estate premises, off Anna Salai in Chennai.

        Through another resolution the Cabinet appreciated the Chief Minister on his completion of 50 years in the Assembly and the recent celebrations to honour his service.

        'Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had already said a new legislative Assembly would be built in a suitable place when speaking at the golden jubilee fete of his 50 years in State Assembly on 12 May,' the resolution authorising the new Assembly complex read. In keeping with the assurance given to legislative party leaders of all parties on the day, it was decided to build the new complex in government estate. It would be built in areas other than the ones where Rajaji Hall, Kalaivanar Arangam, and New MLAs Hostel were located, it was said in the resolution.

        The government had also decided to invite President APJ Abdul Kalam for the foundation stone- laying function of the new Assembly, it is learnt. Karunanidhi is likely to invite Kalam during his visit to New Delhi later this month, it is said.

        It may be recalled that the move to build a modern legislative Assembly was begun during the previous AIADMK regime. However, the initiative did not see the light of the day owing to controversies in the location. Some regulations of the Union government also came in the way of constructing the complex in the location chosen by the then Jayalalithaa government.

        Meanwhile, the demand for a new Assembly complex was revived by members in the House in the just concluded session of the State Assembly. Responding to the appeal, the Chief Minister announced that a new Assembly complex would be built. With the cabinet giving its nod to the project now, it is hoped the construction works would begin sooner.