Delhi assembly may be moving towards a constitutional deadlock with AAP cabinet recommending the floor test of the government be held before the election of the Speaker. At its first meeting on Saturday the cabinet recommended summoning of assembly on 1 January, floor test on 2 January and election of the Speaker on 3 January.
‘The precedence convention and practice in both Parliament and state assemblies have been that the Protem Speaker is appointed by President in case of Lok Sabha and Governor in case of state assemblies, who swears in the members and conducts election of the Speaker. Thereafter the speaker conducts the proceedings of the House,’ said Himanshu Roy, constitutional expert.
'They are trying to set a new and wrong precedence. What has been suggested is not the practice and convention. We would officially react to it when the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat notifies the Schedule,' said former leader of opposition Dr Jagdish Mukhi, who is also the senior-most member of the House. Leader of the Opposition Harsh Vardhan also said that they would present their stand after the schedule is announced. Secretary, Delhi Vidhan Sabha PN Mishra said that a decision regarding the schedule of the assembly session would be taken on Monday.