Dy. Speaker election put off again in U.P.

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, MAY 12. With the Opposition failing to produce a unanimous candidate from its rank for the office of the Deputy Speaker of the U.P. Assembly, the House once again postponed the election stated for today to a later day of the current session. There is a possibility that if the Opposition is not able to put up a common candidate, the treasury benches may choose one from its rank.

This possibility was hinted by a senior member and former BJP Minister, Mr. S. S. Dang, who had asked whether the Deputy Speaker would be elected from among the three Opposition candidates who had filed their nominations or any other member. The Speaker, Mr. Kesari Nath Tripathi, clarified that a member other than the three could also be elected.

The election of a Deputy Speaker for the Assembly could not fructify over the past three years. Traditionally a member from the Opposition is elected unanimously to the coveted office, although the rules do not mention that it must go to the Opposition. However, in view of its tenuous majority in the House the ruling combine had been dragging its feet under one pretext or the other. In view of the experience of Gujarat where a Congress Deputy Speaker, in the absence of an ailing Speaker, had toppled the BJP government under controversial circumstances, it is not ready to take that risk.

The Speaker Mr. Kesari Nath Tripathi who had earlier advised that the matter be decided by the Chief Minister and the leader of the Opposition, assured that he would see to it that the post was filled before the end of the current budget session.

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Section  : Regional
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