Bhopal: Congress MLA Hina Kanwre was elected deputy speaker of state assembly amidst commotion in the House on Thursday even as the main opposition accused the ruling party of breaking away from the old tradition of giving the post to opposition.
The assembly witnessed din and was adjourned multiple times after the BJP raised objection over the process followed by the Chair to elect the 33-year-old woman legislator to the post. Later the Speaker adjourned the House sine die a day ahead of schedule. Congress had fielded two-time legislator Kanwre while BJP had made Jagdish Devda as its candidate for the post.
Assembly speaker N P Prajapati, during election of deputy speaker, read the proposal for the name of Kanwre only. Objecting to this Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava said that his party’s proposal to elect Devda, too, should be read out.
Former assembly speaker Sitasharan Sharma wanted to register his objection through point of order but the Speaker pressed for the completion of the process.
When Prajapati did not listen to Sharma, the BJP legislators resorted to commotion. They trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans ‘Speaker Shame-Shame-Shame’. Amid bedlam the speaker adjourned the House twice. After the House reassembled, Kanwre was elected deputy speaker by a voice vote amid pandemonium.
Terming the decision of assembly Speaker as unconstitutional and undemocratic, LoP Bhargava said his party would bring no confidence motion against the government in the next session. Cong’s Hina Kanwre… BJP had been given the post of deputy speaker to the opposition only but Congress deviated from the tradition, said Bhargava. Former chief minister Sunderlal Patwa gave the post of deputy speaker to Congress, he added.
Terming the election of assembly speaker and deputy speaker as unconstitutional, Bhargava said that the party would move the court. Bhargava said they would meet the President to apprise him of the injustice done by the Congress and the speaker.
