The Hindu : New Delhi News : Session brings to the fore fissures in both major parties

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Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Session brings to the fore fissures in both major parties

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Some MLAs not happy with their seniors
Congress members attack Govt for failures

NEW DELHI: Though short, the three-day winter session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly this week did not lack in action. Besides various important issues, it also brought to the fore certain problems plaguing both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.

The divisions in the ranks of these parties were evident. In both of them, some legislators were not happy with their seniors. On the treasury benches, there were a few occasions when the legislators spoke up critically against the Ministers and the Government.

While Jai Kishen, who is also the All-India Congress Committee secretary, did not mince any words in alleging corruption in distribution of widow and old age pension, Bheeshm Sharma raised the issue of alleged neglect in JP Hospital in removing the kidney of a child and later forcing him out of the hospital. He insisted that Health Minister Yoganand Shastri order a judicial probe into the matter and make arrangements for free treatment of the poor boy who was suffering due to negligence and worse by the Delhi Government-run hospital.

A number of Congress MLAs feel slighted by their own Government and they seldom take part in the proceedings. But when they do intervene, they do so with their gloves off and waste no opportunity to call a spade a spade. In one such instance, Congress legislator Shadi Ram, intervening in a debate on the liquor policy, urged Finance Minister A. K. Walia to ensure that whenever liquor shops are opened in any constituency against the wishes of the area MLA the matter should be advertised widely so that the local population does not hold the legislator responsible.

Divided treasury benches

With less than a year to go for the Assembly elections, the treasury benches seem divided into “haves” and “have-nots” on the basis of those occupying positions in the Government and those outside.

As such, during attacks by the Opposition, few Congress legislators intervene to defend the Government.

On the other hand, the Opposition BJP also appears sharply divided.

Since 16 of the 20 party MLAs are understood to have opposed the election of Leader of Opposition Jagdish Mukhi, it comes as no surprise that in the House when he speaks the generally expected support is normally lacking.

But the way some of the young party MLAs shouted down chief whip Sahib Singh Chauhan while he was airing his views on a motion of breach of privilege and contempt against a newspaper smacked of mob behaviour. Ironically as it turned out, these young MLAs by supporting the motion moved by the Congress missed an opportunity to corner the ruling party on the issue of having more sittings of the House.

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