Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari suspended for winter session of assembly

PTI, Nov 28, 2023, 7:40 PM IST

Source: PTI / File

Kolkata: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was suspended for the entire winter session of the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, following allegations of making objectionable remarks against Speaker Biman Banerjee and creating a ruckus in the House.

The suspension transpired during a discussion on ‘Constitution Day’ in the state assembly.

During the deliberation on ”how the Constitution of the country was under threat”, BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh questioned the legitimacy of legislators who defected from the saffron party but retained their posts without resigning from the Assembly.

The Speaker instructed the removal of Ghosh’s statement from the assembly records, prompting BJP MLAs, led by Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition, to descend to the well of the House and chant slogans against Banerjee. The BJP legislature party denounced the Speaker’s decision as ”unconstitutional” and staged a walk-out from the House.

Subsequently, TMC MLA Tapas Ray moved a motion against Adhikari, demanding his suspension from the House, a request to which the Speaker acceded.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay commented, ”Suvendu Adhikari has been suspended for the entire winter session for using objectionable words and gestures towards the Speaker’s Chair. The BJP legislature party is never interested in any discussion. They are only interested in creating a ruckus in the assembly.” Adhikari, in response, accused the Speaker and the ruling party of acting unconstitutionally.

”A party which is leading the state is functioning most unconstitutionally, and holding a discussion on the constitution is the biggest mockery of the constitution. The ruling TMC wants me out of the assembly,” he asserted.

The BJP legislative party plans to introduce a ‘no-confidence motion’ against the Speaker during the ongoing session.

In March 2022, Adhikari and four other BJP MLAs were temporarily suspended from the House for creating a disturbance during the budget session. The suspension was later rescinded by the Speaker.

Meanwhile, during the discussion, Chattopadhyay expressed concern over a trend to undermine constitutional provisions by some constitutional offices, impacting the democratic rights and federal structure of governance.

”There is a trend of undermining the constitution which jeopardises the federal structure of governance and the basic principles of secularism as enshrined in the constitution but also affects the general well-being of the citizens of the country,” he said.

Education Minister Bratya Basu slammed the BJP government at the Centre for allegedly undermining constitutional norms.

BJP MLA Mihir Goswami, addressing reporters, emphasised that before pointing fingers at the Centre, the state should address its own issues.