Chennai, Sep 6 : Visitor passes for Monday's Tamil Nadu Assembly proceedings are in heavy demand, as students and members of the public seek to watch Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay respond to the debate on demands for grants for the Home Department.

Online reservations for school and college visitors were almost full by Saturday evening, reflecting heightened interest in CM Vijay's scheduled reply on September 7.

Assembly officials said the 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. viewing slot had been completely booked, while only a few seats remained for the 10.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. slot as of 7.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Officials attributed the rush primarily to the Chief Minister's presence in the House and the significance of the Home Department debate. The department covers crucial areas including policing, law and order, public safety and internal security, making the government's response one of the closely watched moments of the session.

Students wishing to attend the proceedings must register through the dedicated facility available on the Assembly's official website. The arrangement allows educational institutions and individual students to reserve seats in advance, subject to availability and entry regulations.

Visitors can follow the proceedings from two types of seating facilities inside the Assembly hall. Eight box-style galleries provide five seats each, while benches placed on both sides of the hall can collectively accommodate about 100 to 150 people at a time.

An Assembly official said that public attendance had risen sharply since the TVK-led government assumed office. The number of visitors increases further whenever Vijay attends the session, as many people are keen to see the Chief Minister in person and observe the functioning of the legislature.

According to the official, between 2,000 and 3,000 people now watch the Assembly proceedings each day. The figure includes visitors attending through different viewing slots during the day, rather than the number accommodated inside the galleries at any single time.

The packed reservations also point to growing curiosity among young people about legislative debates and the new government's performance inside the House so far.

The exceptional demand for Monday's passes underlines the public attention surrounding Vijay's administration and its handling of the Home portfolio.

With the most sought-after slot already filled and remaining seats disappearing quickly, officials expect the galleries to remain crowded when the Chief Minister delivers his reply.

/IANS