Abhishek Banerjee, a leader of the Trinamool Congress, expressed his outrage and disappointment at the conduct of the Lok Sabha speaker’s election, saying it was a clear indication that the ruling BJP government did not have the numbers to back their nominee. According to Banerjee, the pro-tem speaker did not allow a division of votes, despite several opposition MPs seeking one, which he claims is a violation of the rules.
The Trinamool Congress MP pointed out that the rules of the Lok Sabha clearly state that a division of votes must be allowed if any member of the House demands it. He noted that several opposition MPs, including himself, asked for a division, but their demands were ignored. Banerjee argued that this was a clear attempt by the government to suppress the voice of the opposition and assert their authority without accountability.
Banerjee also criticized the government for not having the numbers to back their nominee, Om Birla, and for adopting a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi without putting it to a vote. He claimed that this was a clear testament to the government’s lack of legitimacy and that they were “running without the numbers.” The TMC MP also questioned the morality and ethics of the government’s actions, calling them “illegitimate, immoral, and unconstitutional.”
Abhishek Banerjee (Via Abhishek Banerjee/Twitter)
The pro-tem speaker, Bhartruhari Mahtab, made the announcement of Birla’s election after the opposition, which had proposed Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate, did not press for a division of votes. Banerjee responded to this by saying that the question was not about how strongly the opposition demanded a division, but rather that the rule requires a division to be allowed even if one member demands it.
Kalyan Banerjee, another TMC MP, also echoed Abhishek’s sentiments, saying that the speaker’s election was not conducted in accordance with the law. The opposition’s lack of a united response to the government’s move has raised concerns about the state of Indian democracy, with many questioning the legitimacy of the government’s actions.
