By
L.S. Herdenia
BHOPAL: All eyes are on the first
session of the newly constituted Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, which begins in
Bhopal on January 7. Besides the formal agenda of administering oath to the
elected members, the house will also elect its Speaker. So far MP Vidhan Sabha
has been following the tradition of electing Speaker with unanimity. There is
yet another tradition according to which the post of Deputy Speaker is given to
the opposition.
But
the possibility of contest for the office is not ruled out. The main
opposition, BJP, has not yet taken a decision about it. If BJP decides to
sponsor its candidate for speakership and forces a contest then it will amount
to a floor test of majority. In view of this possibility the Congress is taking
all precautions to face the contingency of election. The outcome of Speaker’s
election will be crucial because if Congress loses the contest its government
may fall. Congress on its own has the strength of 114 in the house of 230. To
secure victory it will require the support of 116 legislators. The Congress,
besides its own strength, enjoys support of three independents, two BSP and one
SP legislators. Congress will have to ensure that BSP, SP and independent
legislators continue their support.
The
first session is also crucial for the BJP. Who will lead the BJP in the Vidhan
Sabha is a million-dollar question. The central leadership has attached great
importance to the post of the leader of the opposition. This is clear by the
fact that the BJP leadership has deputed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to
oversee the election of the opposition leader at the meeting of the BJP
legislature party. Among others, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is
also in the race. The other important candidate is former minister Narottam
Mishra. Two days back Chouhan was in New Delhi and met many central leaders.
Media reports say that during his visit he must have tried to feel the pulse of
party president Amit Shah.
After
returning from Delhi Chouhan told the media, “I am not in the race of LoP nor
have I asked any party leader to propose my name. I do not want any post after
working for almost 13 years as chief minister of the state and would serve the
party as a common worker”.
Sources
in BJP disclosed that Chouhan had a detailed meeting with party leaders and
national office-bearers in New Delhi during his two-day stay. He met Union
minister Rajnath Singh, state in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and other leaders
to discuss the current political situation after the party’s debacle in the
assembly polls. Chouhan has been asked to work to motivate party workers for
the ensuing success in the Lok Sabha elections.
During
the meeting with top party leaders in Delhi, Chouhan refused to be included
among the probables for the post of LoP, said sources, adding that senior party
leaders were also not keen to recommend Chouhan’s name in view of discontent
among a section of leaders against him. It has been learnt that BJP wants a
change in the state leadership in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Sources
said that the party has plans to appoint a senior Brahmin leader as LoP and
names of Narottam Mishra and Rajendra Shukla are being considered for LoP.
Rajnath
Singh and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe are likely to reach the state capital on January
6 when all party MLAs will hold a meeting, confirmed a state BJP functionary.
It is also being said that BJP will not field a candidate for the post of
Speaker if both Congress and BJP reach a consensus over the names of speaker
and deputy speaker. However, a final decision is likely on January 6, said
sources.
Meanwhile,
Digvijay Singh caused a sensation by alleging that some former BJP ministers
are trying to win over some legislators by offering them handsome money and
office. Singh named former minister Narottam Mishra, Bhupendra Singh and
Vishwas Sarang of hatching a conspiracy to overthrow the Congress government.
Singh said that the BJP leaders are targeting three independents, two BSP and
one SP MLA. It is widely known that these legislators are angry over the denial
of ministership to them. Singh said he has reports that these former ministers
are making frantic efforts to win over them. They are being offered a few
crores each. Singh said they are watching the activities.
Asked
about this allegation Chouhan told newspersons that his party was against horse
trading. He made it clear that they will never form a government without having
majority.
Reacting
to the decision to scrap MISA detainees pension, Loktantra Senani Sangh (LSS),
the organisation of the beneficiaries, has decided to move the High Court
against the Congress government order dated December 29 re-prescribing the
pension procedure on the basis of physical verification and halting pensions
from next month.
The
newly-elected Congress dispensation claimed that payments were exceeding
budgetary allocation for the fund vis-a-vis MISA detainees pensions. The
government has, however, also said that it will review the list of the
pensioners and take further decision. This triggered allegations and
counter-allegations between the Congress and the BJP. Madhya Pradesh has
approximately 2,000 MISA pensioners, who receive an average Rs 25,000 each. (IPA Service)
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