The leadership issue remained the focus in the state Assembly on Tuesday when two factions of the Peace Party fought for the leader’s status drawing laughter from the treasury and Opposition benches.
The Peace Party had initially four members comprising Dr Mohammed Ayub, Akhilesh Kumar Singh. Kamal Yousuf Malik and Anis- ur-Rahman. Dr Ayub was elected the leader of the party and Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, Mata Prasad Pandey duly recognised him.In 2013, three members of the Peace Party met the Speaker and removed Dr Ayub as the leader and instead chose Akhilesh Kumar Singh as the leader.
After the question hour, Singh raised the Point of Order saying he, being the leader of the Peace Party, was denied the seat allotted for the party leader.
Dr Ayub who was present in the House at that time said there was an attempt to break the party. “People, who are not members of the party, are raising the issue of leadership. I am the lone member and thus the leader of the party in the House,” he pointed out.
Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said that leader of the party was elected on the basis of majority. “As three members of the party personally met me and apprised me of their decision to remove Dr Ayub, I had no option but to go with the majority. I had nominated Akhilesh Kumar Singh as the leader of the Peace Party,” he clarified.The Speaker said though the rule did not allow a four-member party to get the status of the leader of party, still he sanctioned it.
Dr Ayub was not amused with the Speaker’s stand. “I had given you a petition about removing these three members from the House but no decision has been taken as yet,” he added.” The Speaker said he would look into the matter soon.