Marshalled out many times, BJP MLA likely to be Delhi Assembly Speaker

New Delhi, Feb 20: Former leader of opposition (LoP) in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta who braved AAP’s brute majority and was marshalled out several times in the last decade will be the new Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, party leaders said.
The Rohini MLA, 61, registered his protests in the Assembly as LoP during the last 10 years, being virtually dragged out of the House in 2015 and standing on the table during a session on another occasion in October 2016.
Gupta, third time MLA from the Rohini constituency, confirmed that he is the BJP’s nominee for the Speaker’s post.
He said immediately after taking charge as Speaker, he would ensure the tabling of the 14 CAG reports that were allegedly held back by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
“I am very much thankful to the party for giving me this responsibility of Delhi Assembly’s Speaker. I will discharge this responsibility effectively,” Gupta told PTI.
The BJP has 48 MLAs in the newly constituted 8th Delhi Assembly while the opposition AAP has 22 legislators. The Assembly Speaker is elected by the House members.
In view of the majority enjoyed by the BJP in the Assembly, Gupta’s elevation to Speaker’s post is a foregone conclusion. “The CAG reports will be tabled in the House first of all after I take charge of the Assembly Speaker. It is my duty to bring the reports before the public and I will fulfil it,” he said. In a veiled attack on AAP, Gupta said the Assembly is a temple of democracy whose sanctity must be maintained by all. “I pray to God for good senses to prevail among those who ran the Assembly in an anarchic manner in the last year by violating the rules and regulations,” he said, expecting the opposition AAP to become a part of healthy discussion in the House. (PTI)