Kerala CM Vijayan criticises Centre for not appointing Congress MP K Suresh as LS pro-tem Speaker
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday criticised the Centre for appointing a pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha in alleged violation of parliamentary conventions and thus not giving the role to the most senior MP in the Lok Sabha Congress's Kodikunnil Suresh.
Terming the Centre's decision as objectionable, Vijayan said the union government needs to clarify why Suresh, who is most senior MP in the Lok Sabha, was not chosen for the position, as per convention.
The CM, in a statement issued by his office, also questioned what is the BJP's answer to those who suspect that Suresh was not considered for the post due to the «upper caste politics» followed by the Sangh Parivar. Vijayan's remarks came a day after seven-term parliamentarian and BJP leader Bhartruhari Mahtab was made the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The CM accused the BJP of being arrogant in allegedly not following parliamentary democratic principles and past conventions of the Lower House. He also pointed out that in the last Lok Sabha, the post of Deputy Speaker was vacant for the entire five years and the reason behind it was the BJP's attitude that no one belonging to the opposition can be accepted in that position. Vijayan said that this haughty approach of the BJP leadership can only be seen as a challenge and insult to Indian democracy.
Earlier in the day, Suresh, an eight-term MP, said that being the most senior Lok Sabha member, he ought to have been made the pro-tem Speaker as per convention. The pro-tem Speaker
