File Photo: Haryana Legislative Assembly
BJP MLA Santosh Yadav was today elected Deputy Speaker of Haryana Assembly in Chandigarh, with Congress opposing the move and suggesting that a legislator from the opposition benches or an Independent should have got the post.
The name of Mr Yadav, an MLA from Ateli in south Haryana's Mahendargarh district, was proposed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma seconded it.
The main Opposition INLD supported Mr Yadav's nomination, with party's senior leader and Leader of Opposition, Abhay Singh Chautala saying it was a good decision.
Notably, after the BJP formed the government in Haryana after last year's assembly elections in October, the election to the post of the Deputy Speaker was long due.
Congress opposed the move saying it would have been better if an opposition MLA or even an Independent's name had been proposed.
Congress leader Kiran Choudhary said in the Business Advisory Committee meeting before the current monsoon session of the assembly that her party had suggested that as per tradition it would be better if an opposition MLA was elected to the post.
"I know that you would not have made anyone from the Congress as Deputy Speaker, which is why I had suggested in the BAC that let anyone from INLD or even an Independent legislator's name be proposed for the post," Ms Choudhary said pointing towards the ruling BJP benches in the Assembly.
"This is a regressive step (making Dy Speaker from the ruling party). For democracy, it does not augur well," she said.
Congress MLA Karan Singh Dalal said that anyone from the INLD, Independent or even the BSP could have been made the Deputy Speaker.
However, INLD's Abhay Chautala hailed Mr Yadav's election, saying it was a good decision that a woman member had been elected to the post.
"I congratulate you (the ruling BJP) for this. Congress is in the habit of trying to find fault in everything,"
Mr Chautala said.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated Mr Yadav and the BJP members thumped the benches and said her election was yet another step towards women empowerment.
Later, addressing the members, Mr Yadav said she will try to deliver her best and live up to the expectations which the House has entrusted on her.