Post remains unfilled since 2023; NC silent, BJP unassertive
Srinagar, Jan 30: As the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly convenes for its 5th session on February 2, the post of Deputy Speaker in the House remains vacant, raising questions about the National Conference-led government for keeping this key statutory and legislative position unfilled.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), as per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Legislative Assembly shall, as soon as may be, choose two of its members to serve as Speaker and Deputy Speaker. While NC’s Abdul Rahim Rather was unanimously elected Speaker of the Assembly on the second day of its first session, November 4, 2023, the chair of Deputy Speaker has remained empty ever since.
According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the J&K Legislative Assembly, the election of the Deputy Speaker shall be held on such date as the Speaker may fix. The Deputy Speaker is elected once a motion proposing his or her name is moved.
The process of electing the Deputy Speaker has to be initiated by the government, but the ruling National Conference does not appear to be in a hurry to fill this key slot.
If sources are to be believed, the egos of both NC and BJP have kept the post vacant. While NC has not shown any inclination to offer the post of Deputy Speaker to the BJP, the latter has not demanded it from the former.
Repeated attempts to seek comments from the National Conference proved futile as its chief whip Mubarak Gul didn’t respond to repeated calls from KNO.
J&K BJP General Secretary (Organisation), Ashok Koul, said that the government has to set the ball rolling for the election of the Deputy Speaker.
“It is not necessary that they choose our MLA as Deputy Speaker; they can even elect their own MLA as Deputy Speaker,” he said. (KNO)
