Pro-tem Speaker issue: Congress rescues AAP
2 Jan 2014 5:15 AM IST
On Monday, Dr Jagdish Mukhi, the senior-most member of the newly constituted House had refused to accept the offer of Lieutenant Governor. According to sources, lone JD(U) MLA Shoaib Iqbal too was approached but he also refused.
The controversy over the issue has arisen following the schedule announced by the Arvind Kejriwal-led cabinet that the floor test of the government will 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 BJP has objected to the schedule saying wrong precedence was being set by the new dispensation. The precedence, convention and practice in both Parliament and state assemblies have been that the protem Speaker is appointed by the 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. The same precedence has been followed in Delhi assembly since 1993.
Observers say that AAP wants to avoid being seen in alliance with the Congress and to have a Speaker of their choice. BJP has assured support of 33 MLAs in the 70-member House and AAP can only avoid defeat in Speaker’s contest by having Congress on its side.
‘The BJP wants to force the issue so that AAP and Congress are seen together. They have achieved it by forcing appointment of a Congress MLA as pro-tem Speaker.
With Mateen appointed pro-tem Speaker, the majority in the House is delicately balanced with the government assured of support of 35 members (28 of AAP and seven remaining members of Congress) and BJP having 33. JD(U)’s Shoaib Iqbal is known to be tricky customer and may seek his pound of flesh before pledging support. He may decide to abstain.
To ensure AAP doesn’t face embarrassment, the Congress would have to issue a whip to its MLAs to be present and support government sponsored candidate for the Speaker’s post. In case they abstain, BJP may carry the day.
The controversy over the issue has arisen following the schedule announced by the Arvind Kejriwal-led cabinet that the floor test of the government will 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 BJP has objected to the schedule saying wrong precedence was being set by the new dispensation. The precedence, convention and practice in both Parliament and state assemblies have been that the protem Speaker is appointed by the 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. The same precedence has been followed in Delhi assembly since 1993.
Observers say that AAP wants to avoid being seen in alliance with the Congress and to have a Speaker of their choice. BJP has assured support of 33 MLAs in the 70-member House and AAP can only avoid defeat in Speaker’s contest by having Congress on its side.
‘The BJP wants to force the issue so that AAP and Congress are seen together. They have achieved it by forcing appointment of a Congress MLA as pro-tem Speaker.
With Mateen appointed pro-tem Speaker, the majority in the House is delicately balanced with the government assured of support of 35 members (28 of AAP and seven remaining members of Congress) and BJP having 33. JD(U)’s Shoaib Iqbal is known to be tricky customer and may seek his pound of flesh before pledging support. He may decide to abstain.
To ensure AAP doesn’t face embarrassment, the Congress would have to issue a whip to its MLAs to be present and support government sponsored candidate for the Speaker’s post. In case they abstain, BJP may carry the day.
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