Rajasthan’s outgoing Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal on Thursday took exception to the Congress government calling the new Assembly’s first session on a short notice.
He alleged that the ruling party had flouted parliamentary rules and traditions by not discussing the matter with him. Mr. Meghwal said at a press conference here that the State government did not adhere to the rule of issuing notice 21 days prior to summoning of the Assembly session and directly wrote a letter to Governor Kalyan Singh on January 8 to convene the first session of the new Assembly on January 15. He said he received the Governor’s order on Wednesday afternoon.
‘Mandatory condition’
“The Chief Minister or the Parliamentary Affairs Minister did not consult me before this. A formal discussion with me is a mandatory condition under the rules,” said Mr. Meghwal, 84, a BJP MLA from Shahpura seat.
He said he would not summon the Assembly’s first session in these circumstances and added that he had apprised the Governor of the matter.
A pro tem Speaker will administer the oath of office to the newly elected members of the House and the new Speaker will be elected in the first session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. The new Assembly was constituted on December 12 after the announcement of election results on December 11.
Mr. Meghwal said he was not in favour of convening the Assembly against the rules. “I will not become party to an unconstitutional tradition. Besides, security arrangements cannot be made in the House at this fast speed,” he said.