BHOPAL: Amid speculations over probable names for the post of speaker in Madhya Pradesh assembly, food and civil supplies minister Bisahulal Singh has joined the chorus demanding appointment of Speaker from Vindhya region.
After BJP's victory in the recent bypolls, there is an intense lobbying for the post of Speaker in the saffron party. The pro tem Speaker, Rameshwar Sharma has made a record by staying for over four months in the office and the BJP leaders were demanding to elect the new Speaker from Vindhya or Mahakaushal region.
"Every person loves his region. People of Vidhya want that an able person from their region should be elected as Speaker of the assembly. I also support their demand. A full-time Speaker will be elected in the winter session of the assembly," Bisahulal told reporters, on Monday.
Sources in BJP disclosed that several leaders were lobbying for the post of Speaker and deputy Speaker after the saffron party won 19 seats in the recent by-polls and attained a full majority. As per the latest tally in the House of 229 members, BJP has 126 MLAs while the main Opposition Congress has 96 MLAs. There are two MLAs from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), one from Samajwadi Party (SP) and four Independent MLAs.
After the BJP government took over the reins of power under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MLA from Huzur assembly seat, Rameshwar Sharma was appointed as pro tem Speaker on July 3. He has almost completed four and a half months in the chair, which is a record in the history of Madhya Pradesh.
"Normally pro tem Speaker remains in the office for two three days, till the appointment of Speaker. This time the situation is different. Due to Covid-19 and bypolls, the election of Speaker was postponed. In the coming Session, a full-time Speaker will be appointed. There is no time bar on the tenure of a pro tem Speaker though," principal secretary of assembly, AP Singh Told TOI.
Sources in BJP disclosed that apart from Sharma, who is continuing as pro tem Speaker, former Speaker Sitasaran Sharma, senior MLA from Sidhi, Kedar Nath Shukla, MLA from Patan, Ajay Vishnoi, Nagendra Singh from Gurh and Yashpal Singh Sisodia from Mandsaur are strong claimants for the coveted post. Recently a delegation of MLAs from Vindhya region spearheaded by MLA Girish Gautam and Narayan Tripathi had also demanded that Vindhya region should be given importance.
Sources in the assembly disclosed that in case the government decides to call an assembly session in December to clear the supplementary bills, then the election of Speaker and deputy Speaker could be held. Else, the election will be held in February or March during the budget session of the state assembly.
The Congress has demanded to call the assembly session at the earliest. "Elections are over and the assembly session should be called immediately to elect the Speaker. BJP has managed seven months in the government through temporary arrangements. Now the government is trying to run the assembly too on a temporary basis," said Congress state spokesperson, Bhupendra Gupta.