The ruling Congress party got its leader Hina Kavre elected as Deputy Speaker even as opposition Bharatiya Janata party strongly opposed the move forcing the speaker to adjourn the House thrice amid the pandemonium.
Later, in the State assembly premises, both the parties accused each other of shattering the parliamentary traditions. The BJP calling it a Black Day affirmed it would complain to the President of India.
As the House assembled on Thursday, the Congress proposed the name of Lanjhi MLA Hina Kavre for the post of Deputy Speaker prompting BJP MLAs to step into the well and protest. Former assembly speaker Sitasharan Sharma objected to the fact that the speaker did not read out the name of BJP candidate Jagdish Devda.
The opposition also was upset with Speaker not announcing division of votes. Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargav accused the Speaker NP Prajapati of being partial and suppressing opposition’s voice.
Afterwards the Speaker read out all the five proposals including the one with the name of Jagdish Devda. Former Speaker Sharma wanted to raise point of order and was demanding division of votes but the Speaker did not allow it.
Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also accused the Speaker of losing his impartiality on the first day in office adding the latter was suppressing the voice of the opposition.
The pleas from the Speaker fell on deaf ears and the din continued even as the House was adjourned thrice amid all this.
Seeing the BJP MLAs not retreating to their seats and raising slogans constantly, the Speaker completed the election of Deputy Speaker Hina Kavre with a voice vote.
Kanware initiated discussion on thanks giving motion on Governor’s speech but was repeatedly interrupted by opposition MLAs. Medical Education minister Vijaylaxmi Sadho objected to BJP ruckus as a woman MLA was speaking and alleged it was ‘shameful’ and ‘indicative’ of the fact how much the opposition respects women.
While talking to media persons, Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargav said that it was a black day in Indian democracy. “We would complain to the President of India,” he said, adding that the opposition was exploring the options of moving the court. “In the last four days, the Congress has massacred the constitutional provisions,” he alleged.
Chief Minister Kamal Nath retaliated claiming it was the BJP which has broken the parliamentary tradition.
The BJP is not able to digest the fact it is now in opposition, Nath told the media. Explaining Congress stand Nath said the BJP in the breach of tradition contested for the post of Speaker and this compelled them to field candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker.