Opposition Terms Speaker Election as 'invalid and illegal'
Bangalore, Dec 30 (PTI): The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed ugly scenes during the election of ruling BJP candidate K G Bopaiah as Speaker, which was vehemently objected by opposition JD(S) and Congress.
A section of Congress and JD(S) members mounted atop the Speaker's podium, pulled the mike and tried to manhandle N Yogish Bhat, who was appointed presiding officer to conduct the election to the post of Speaker.
As Bhat asked Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to read out the motion proposing the name of Deputy Speaker Bopaiah for the Speaker's post, JD(S) and Congress members rushed into the well of the house, chanted anti-government slogans and insisted on postponing the election.
Former minister and JD(S) leader Zamir Ahmed rushed to the Speaker's podium, pulled out the microphone and even tried to drag Bhat out of his seat.
Ruling party members also rushed to the well and dragged away opposition members from the Speaker's podium.
Even as this tussle was going on, other opposition members rained papers and booklets on Bhat.
An unfazed Bhat put the motion to voice vote and declared Bopaiah as new Speaker.
Enraged, Congress and JD(S) members shouted anti-government slogans and termed the election "invalid and illegal", a contention rejected by Bopaiah and the government.
In the midst of the din, Yeddyurappa and Minister for Information Katta Subramanaya Naidu escorted Bopaiah from the Deptuy Speaker's chair to the Speaker's chair.
Yeddyurappa quickly completed the formalities of felicitating the newly-elected Speaker.
Bopaiah, on assuming the Chair, adjourned the house sine die.
The Chief Minister later hit out at the opposition, terming their acts as being "a black day in the history of the state legislature and murder of democracy", even as Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah termed the election as "invalid".
Undeterred by the developments, Bopaiah declared "I have been duly elected. There has been no violation of procedure".
Speaking to reporters later, he said the election for the post was notified for today by Governor H R Bhardwaj, which had been duly communicated to all members.
"As per the notification and in accordance with Rule 7 of the business of procedure of the House, all due processes were duly adhered to", Bopaiah said.
Since the opposition parties did not press for a division, the motion already put to vote and carried by voice vote is valid, he said.
"Even when there is a dharna in the house, the house is in order. There are several rulings to this effect", he said, refusing to accept the contention of opposition parties that the House was not in order when the election took place.
Bopaiah said that unlike his predecessors, he would not quit the BJP membership.
Bopaiah's election as Speaker followed the resignation of Jegadish Shettar, who joined the Yeddyurappa cabinet.
Bangalore: Bopaiah Elected Karnataka Assembly Speaker
PTI
Bangalore, Dec 30: Ruling BJP's nominee K G Bopaiah was elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly today amid unprecedented unruly scenes.
Assuming charge, Bopaiah adjourned the House sine die, a day ahead of the scheduled conclusion of the session as the opposition chanted slogans against the government.