If the division had been allowed after the voice vote which the Vice-Chairman ruled was in favour of the treasury benches, Surface Transport Minister Thambi Durai could not have introduced the Bill.

Amid high drama and a 15-minute adjournment, the Opposition finally relented and decided not to continue with their protest further.

It all started with Jibon Roy (CPM) protesting against Durai's move to introduce the Bill saying that it was being done in a hurry. Since it involved the future of thousands of port workers, a wider debate on the proposed legislation was necessary, he argued. Vayalar Ravi (Congress) supported the argument.

And, immediately after the leave was announced for the bill to be introduced, Opposition members were up on their feetwith Ramachandran Pillai (CPM) pressing the Chair for a division. After a discussion on the division with both the Opposition and treasury, the Vice-Chairman decided against a division.

This led to several senior members to appeal the chair not to set a wrong precedent. H Hanumanthappa of the Congress said, ``We don't want this to happen under your leadership,'' he implored. Even as several Opposition members were crying that `democracy is being butchered', Hanumanthappa went up to Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha who immediately rose to make what seemed to be a placatory statement.

Making it a point to emphasise that the ruling coalition was aware of the fact that it did not enjoy a majority in the House, he assured the House that it did not mean to ride roughshod over the feelings of anybody. He said that the Bill was only being introduced now and members had the right to throw it out if they did not want it.

But the Opposition continued their agitated posture even after this and pressed for a divisionsaying they would not allow ``subversion of democracy.''

At this point, the Vice-Chairman had to adjourn the House for 15 minutes. When proceedings resumed, he appealed to the Opposition to put what had happened behind and continue with the business.