Cong MLAs walk out as Speaker rejects demand for extended discussion on Governor speech

Speaker Chaudhary said he was ready to extend the business of the House till midnight to accommodate the speeches of Opposition members.

Pointing out that the Assembly has convened only for a day, the Speaker said, “Though the Business Advisory Committee has not been formed, you can still finalise the names of MLAs and give it to me and I will approve them… You have not finalised the name of your leader (in the House), and perhaps so you could not finalise the names of MLAs who will speak. I have received the name of MLAs from the ruling party’s chief whip on those who will speak on the Governor’s speech.”

The Speaker also appealed to the Congress MLAs not to walk out on day one of the first session of the 15th Gujarat Assembly.

However, after the Speaker directed to proceed with the business of the House, members of the Congress walked out while those from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) continued to remain seated.

Modhwadia later told The Indian Express that the issue of appointing a leader for the Congress in the House was an internal issue of the party and the Speaker could have easily held a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

“For the time-being, we have appointed Shailesh Parmar as coordinator for the party in the House,” Modhwadia added.

The Congress has left the decision of selection of the party’s leader in the House to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.