The Hindu : New Delhi News : Race for Speaker's post gathers momentum

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Race for Speaker's post gathers momentum

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28. The race for filling up the vacancies of the posts of Delhi Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker is turning into an interesting show of strength between the various factions in the Delhi unit of the Congress and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). The election of the Speaker is likely to be held on July 20, the opening day of the fortnight-long budget session of the Assembly.

Apart from the former Speaker and Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president, Chaudhary Prem Singh, others in the race include the veteran Congress leader and party MLA, Tajdar Babar, the former Minister, Narendra Nath, and the senior party leader, S.C. Vats. The candidature of Mr. Nath reportedly is being backed by the Chief Minister in view of the work done by him during the recent Lok Sabha polls in East Delhi. Political observers feel this move could face serious resistance from not only the rival faction but also some senior leaders in the All India Congress Committee who are determined not to let Ms. Dikshit have her way this time round. Mr. Nath is solely depending on the skills of Ms. Dikshit to see him through and could face rough weather with the top leadership.

As for Mr. Prem Singh, who has been appointed as the pro-term Speaker, this could be one of the last major battles of his political career. Mr. Singh's candidature is being backed by the Union Minister of State for Non-Resident Indians Affairs, Jagdish Tytler, and the former Deputy Speaker, Kiran Chaudhary, but is being strongly opposed by the Outer Delhi strongman, Sajjan Kumar. It is understood that Mr. Kumar has also complained to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and the AICC leader in-charge Delhi, Ahmed Patel, against Mr. Singh for reportedly having worked against him in the Lok Sabha polls in Outer Delhi constituency. A lot will depend on with whom Mr. Kumar decides to side with in this battle, but presently he is certainly not vouching for Mr. Singh. On the other hand, Mr. Tytler is working hard to ensure that Mr. Singh is installed as the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. Mr. Tytler is also pushing for making the Vaish leader and former Member of Parliament, J.P. Aggarwal, the new DPCC president in case Mr. Singh is elevated.

On the other hand, another section wants that the party should elevate a Muslim to the post of a Speaker in order to send a clear message to the minorities that they were being adequately represented in the share of power. The name of Ms. Babar has been doing the rounds for the past few days and she has also received support from the newly elected New Delhi Member of Parliament, Ajay Maken. It is learnt Mr. Maken is backing Ms. Babar as she had performed outstandingly in her Minto Road constituency during the Lok Sabha polls that had ensured a 6-1 victory for the Congress party. The name of senior leader and two - time MLA, Dr. S.C. Vats, has also come up for discussion for the post of Speaker. Although not a clear choice of the Chief Minister, Dr. Vats has the potential to emerge as a compromise candidate and could receive the support of AICC leaders including Mr. Patel. It is felt that the party has give a raw deal to Dr. Vats, who was close to former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. The election of the Deputy Speaker is also generating strong interest as the women MLAs within the party are demanding that this post should be given to them in view of the commitment of the party to give proper representation to women.

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