Barbs make Balayogi squirm in hot seat

Balayogi himself was clearly uncomfortable through the sarcastic felicitations being showered on him by opposition members, the most devastating of whom was Laloo.

Mocking the TDP’s stated neutrality, he said caustically, "Lekin neutral gear mein gaadi nahin chal sakti thi, so gear badal kar top gear mein daal diya." ("No vehicle can move in neutral gear, so youwent into top gear").

It was just a hint of the storms ahead for the new Speaker who will have to manage a House which is virtually split down the middle. His torment began almost immediately after he was declared elected by pro-tem Speaker Indrajit Gupta following a voice vote on Vajpayee’s motion proposing Balayogi’s name. "Who is this man?"’ asked an opposition member derisively. His remarks set off unruly cries of "dhokha, dhoka, (betrayal), shame, shame" and references to bargaining, if any, that might have gone into the Speaker’s election.

But the real barbs for the ruling combine, as also the Speaker, came later; soon after Vajpayee began his customary congratulatory speech. "We’ve seen your contribution and capabilities in the 10th Lok Sabha…It is a matter of pride for us that a respected member of the Scheduled Caste community has been elected as the Speaker during the 50th anniversary of Indian independence," he said.

The irrepressible BSP leader, Mayawati, was immediately on herfeet. "Kya aap Uttar Pradesh ki tarah inke bhi pad ka durupyog karenge?" (Will you misuse his position in the same manner as you-ve done in UP?), she yelled.

Even though her comments drew sharp reactions from the Treasury benches, she continued undeterred, forcing Vajpayee to pause for while. She was joined in by her party colleague Arif Mohammad Khan, former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, Congressmen Mukul Wasnik and Ajit Jogi.

"Was Sangma not capable?" Mayawati asked, lashing out at the BJP for exploiting the Dalits for votes.

Balayogi was not quite sure how to handle the pandemonium threatening to overtake the proceedings. "Arre, arre, please, please, baithiye, baithiye" (sit, sit, please, please), he repeated again and again.

His pleadings seemed to have no effect on the opposition members, most of whom were on their feet by now, voicing their protest against the manner in which he had been elected. In the noise and din that followed for over half-an-hour, nothing could beheard. At the end of this spell, the BSP members trooped out of the House against the Prime Minister’s refusal to allow their leader Mayawati to make her point.

Both the ruling combine and the Speaker were subjected to a more grilling time by speaker after speaker belonging to the opposition benches. "From now on, you belong to the House, and not to any political party. You are the custodian of the rights and privileges of the House," observed veteran CPI (M) leader Somnath Chatterjee, "I am sure you’d maintain the equi-distance which our good friend Chandrababu Naidu had promised earlier."

But the most caustic comments were made by RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav. With the other Yadav leader — Mulayam Singh — egging him on from the next seat, he remarked in his inimitable style: "I am happy that the politics of uncertainty is over even though norms, traditions and conventions have been given a go-by in your (the Speaker’s) election."

It took words of advice from Balayogi’s rival for the post, hispredecessor P A Sangma, to restore a sense of equilibrium in the House. "It is only in a democracy that a leader of leaders can emerge from unexpected quarters. Your election has proved that we are a democracy in the fullest sense," he declared, attracting appreciative applause.

Observing that Balayogi, when translated into English meant "a young sage," Sangma said: "I hope you’ll be immensely guided by your youthful and saintly wisdom."

Indrajit Gupta and TMC leader P Chidambaram too refrained from following the example set by their colleagues in the Opposition. Gupta pointed out that being a Scheduled Caste, Balayogi’s election had "wittingly or unwittingly" rectified a blot in the Indian democracy. (Balayogi is Lok Sabha’s first SC Speaker). He hoped that the new Speaker would restore the credibility of the House.

TDP will not vote on confidence motion