Karnataka Assembly: BJP Accuses Karnataka Speaker Khader of Bias Toward Congress
Opposition claims Speaker ignores ruling party disruptions and alleged insults to Governor.
BJP legislators in the Karnataka Assembly launched a sharp attack on Speaker UT Khader on Friday, accusing him of blatant partiality toward the ruling Congress. They alleged that disciplinary actions, such as suspensions for disrupting House proceedings, are applied only against Opposition members while similar behaviour by Congress MLAs goes unpunished. The BJP pointed to past suspensions of their members—including nine in 2023 and 18 for six months last year—as evidence of one-sided enforcement.
The controversy intensified over Thursday’s joint session incident involving Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka claimed Congress legislators insulted the Governor by failing to accompany him when he left the House, and accused Law Minister HK Patil of stating the Governor “ran away.” Ashoka demanded immediate action against those Congress members, citing video evidence and House rules requiring the Speaker to act within 24 hours. “Even you will be accused of siding with the ruling party legislators,” he warned Khader.
Senior BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar echoed the charge, saying the Speaker has consistently suspended BJP members at the ruling party’s behest but allowed Congress MLAs to act unruly and insult the Governor. “You only speak on behalf of the government,” he alleged. BJP MLA Suresh Kumar questioned what might have happened if something untoward had occurred to the Governor during the altercation.
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The row stems from ongoing tensions after the Governor reportedly rejected the government-prepared speech under Article 163, leading to accusations of constitutional violation by the ruling side and counter-allegations of disrespect from the Opposition. Speaker Khader reserved his ruling on the BJP’s demands despite calls for an immediate decision. He advised legislators to rise above party politics to uphold the dignity of the House.
The exchange highlights deepening political polarisation in the Karnataka Assembly, with the BJP framing the Speaker’s conduct as undermining impartiality and the dignity of constitutional offices, while the ruling Congress has defended its stance in related debates on gubernatorial roles.
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