Cong: CM defending campaigning by Speaker shocking

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, October 15

CLP leader Mukesh Agnihotri today criticised the remarks of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker can campaign in election. He challenged the Chief Minister to cite one instance in the country where Speaker of an Assembly had campaigned in a byelection.

In a press statement issued today, Agnihotri said it was shocking that the Chief Minister was virtually defending Speaker Rajiv Bindal for campaigning in the byelections which was a grave impropriety. The Speaker was elected by a majority. He had to remain above party affiliation to conduct the house as a neutral chairperson. Most leaders resign from party after being elected as Speaker upholding the highest democratic norms and to reinforce the neutral character of the office.

Agnihotri said that the Chief Minister should learn lessons on democratic norms from veteran BJP leader Shanta Kumar who ensured that Shrawan Kumar resigned as Speaker before taking part in Janata Legislative Party meeting in July 1979. The crucial party meeting was convened for trial of strength between Shanta Kumar and his rival Kishori Lal during tussle for leadership. It was an internal party meeting and not a floor test in the house but still the Speaker was asked to resign before taking part in party matters as he has to be neutral and above party politics for conducting the house in a fair and impartial manner.

The Constitution does not stipulate that the Speakers should resign from their parties at the time of election as Speaker. However, paragraph 5 of the 10th Schedule, which aims at curbing defection, exempts Speaker from disqualification on voluntarily quitting the party. This makes it clear that the Speaker was expected to resign from the party membership on election as Speaker, otherwise there would be no purpose of the provision granting exemption from disqualification, he said.

He further said that it was appalling that the current Chief Minister was trying to prove former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar wrong by justifying open canvassing by Speaker and Deputy Speaker. It reflects the decline of the “party with a difference” and its blatant attempts undermine democracy. The party is setting new standards in electoral malpractices with each poll and taking the democratic processes to a new low.

He also said that this fight would not end just here but will be taken to its logical conclusion. The Congress would take up the matter with the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and also take it up with the President of India so that no Speaker dares to dishonor the sanctity of the chair he holds.

Campaigning by the Speaker also shows the desperation of the BJP as it has been forced to drag the person holding constitutionally neutral post into the electoral arena to boost its campaign making it obvious that it was on a weak wicket, the CLP leader said.