Sore over attack, Speaker skips House

Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, who is facing flak from the Congress and five Independent MLAs, absented himself from the House proceedings on Wednesday, despite being present in his chambers.

That’s not all. Bopaiah - who threw a fit at being targeted by Congress and Independent MLAs - had to be pacified by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who came to the Speaker’s office during lunch hour.

The Congress and Independents have been demanding the resignation of the Speaker over the Supreme Court’s remarks against him. They wore black bands to register their protest.

While Gowda was ushered into the Speaker’s chamber by Law Minister Suresh Kumar, his Cabinet colleagues Shobha Karandlaje, R Ashoka, Basavaraj Bommai and MLA D N Jeevaraj were seen hurrying towards Bopaiah’s office after the House was adjourned for lunch.

Sources said that Bopaiah was hurt by the attacks against him over his decision to disqualify the Independent MLAs. The Congress has been alleging that the Speaker did it to save the Yeddyurappa government in October 2010. It is said Bopaiah was upset with Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat, who was in the Chair, for allowing a protracted discussion over his removal.

After being closeted in the Speaker’s chamber for nearly 20 minutes, Gowda and the ministers walked out of Vidhana Soudha followed by Bopaiah himself.

The Speaker is learnt to have said that he held a post similar to a judge and that the government was not doing enough to defend him against the attacks.

However, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah got nearly an hour to make his preliminary submission on an adjournment motion his party sought to move seeking the resignation of the Speaker, for having passed an illegal order on the disqualification of MLAs. 

As soon as the House assembled in the morning, the Congress and Independent MLAs were eager to stage a protest demanding Bopaiah’s resignation. To their disappointment, he did not walk into the House. Instead, his deputy occupied the Chair.

Siddaramaiah, making a submission, argued that the Supreme Court had passed strictures against the Speaker and he must step down immediately. Failing which, the government should state whether or not it ‘respects’ the Court’s verdict.

The ruling party members, including ministers, defended the Speaker and said the Court had only made observations. They said the Speaker could not be criticised both inside and outside the House, as he is a constitutional authority.

After a heated debate, Yogish Bhat set aside the demand for an adjournment motion and adjourned the House. Post-lunch too, the Opposition continued with its demand, which forced Bhat to adjourn the House for the day.

Siddaramaiah told reporters that his party would not continue the agitation on Thursday as it wanted to focus on other issues.