By Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Metro Reporter
THE SILENCE OF THE SPEAKER
ONE MONTH OVER, SPEAKER STILL QUIET ON SRIRAMULU’S RESIGNATION
It’s been over a month now that MLA Sriramulu submitted his resignation to the speaker personally and in the prescribed format, but the same is not yet accepted. The rule does not stipulate any time limit for the Speaker to accept the resignation of an MLA, but that also does not mean that the Speaker may sit tight on it for long particularly after Sriramulu observed all the stipulated rules.
Everybody knew that Sriramulu’s resignation was a prelude to the toppling of D. V. Sadananda Gowda led BJP Government, engineered by the Reddy Brothers. The Reddy Brothers were refused cabinet entry into the new Sadananda Gowda Government by the BJP High Command for they were named accused in the Lokayukta report on mining scam.
Dejected, the Reddy’s mobilised their supporter MLAs and planned to resign enmasse to reduce Sadananda Gowda Government to minority. Sriramulu’s resignation was the first salvo fired by the Reddy camp. Sriramulu went to Mercara to personally hand over his resignation to the speaker who dodged him for several hours. But, the determined Sriramulu waited till the night at Bopaiah’s residence and finally handed over the resignation letter to him personally. There was not even an iota of emotional reasons as a cool and calm Sriramulu submitted the resignation letter to Bopaiah and the event was telecasted live on the TV channels.
Once an MLA personally submits his resignation to the Speaker and that too in the stipulated format, there is not much the Speaker can do except accepting the same. If the resignation letter is not in order or the MLA has written it under duress or emotional reasons, the Speaker may refuse to accept it. He may ask the MLA to resubmit the resignation letter in the proper format or withdraw the same. But it was not so in the case of Sriramulu. In fact, Sriramulu himself waited for hours and handed over the letter personally to him. As such, there is no alternative for Bopaiah, but to simply accept it. Yet, he is simply sitting tight over Sriramulu’s resignation.
Sriramulu’s resignation initially created ripples among the BJP leaders and they were on their toes to persuade him to withdraw the same. But soon, the game changed as to everyone’s shock, the CBI suddenly and swiftly arrested Janardhana Reddy, within hours of Sriramulu’s resignation. The arrest of Janardhana Reddy took away the dramatic effect of Sriramulu’s resignation episode and now Sriramulu’s future too became uncertain. Very soon, CBI could also arrest him as he is one of the active Director’s of the Obalapuram Mining Company. The CBI action dealt a severe blow to Reddy’s toppling move and in a way saved Sadananda Gowda’s Government.
Later, Sriramulu himself started having second thoughts over his resignation and stated that the Speaker needs time to ascertain the facts before accepting the resignation. But soon, Sriramulu stung by the adverse media reactions, finally and solemnly affirmed that he will not take back the papers. He also abandoned his ‘Swabhimana Yatra’ scheduled to start from Mysore, minutes after Janardhana Reddy was arrested.
Whatsoever, the Speaker Bopaiah continued with his indecision and was strongly criticised by the JD(S) and Congress who took serious exceptions to his not accepting the resignation. It may be recalled that the same Speaker had accepted the resignation of Congress and JD(S) members instantly, when they offered to resign under the influence of BJP’s Operation Kamala. And the same Speaker is sitting over Sriramulu’s resignation for over a month.
It is another matter that Speaker Bopaiah’s action in the past was also severely criticised by the Supreme Court. Despite the severe strictures by the Supreme Court, Bopaiah continues with his petty politics. He has forgotten that he is the Speaker of the Assembly and has constitutional responsibilities and duties. He has disgraced the institution of the Speaker through his earlier decisions and the present Sriramulu issue.
Interestingly, Sriramulu has resigned a month ago but his resignation is not yet accepted. In such a situation, does he deserve to enjoy all the facilities and perks reserved for an MLA? Will he be paid his MLA salary from the public money in spite of having resigned?
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