BJP, Cong spar in Assembly over MLA Jogi's sitting position

The second day of Budget session of Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed a heated exchange of words between ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress over the issue of sitting position of expelled Congress MLA Amit Jogi.
Soon after Question Hour, Marwahi legislator Amit Jogi, recently expelled by the Pradesh Congress Committee for six years, raised the point of order and sought to know from the chair whether he is the member of the Congress Legislative Party or not.
His sitting position was changed from number 63 to 89 in the current session.
Subsequently, Revenue Minister Prem Prakash Pandey requested the chair to get Jogi's position defined, saying as the MLA himself has raised the issue, the matter should be clarified once and for all.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar joined him saying such kind of issue has cropped up for the first time in the House.
"The matter should be explained whether Amit Jogi is still a member of Congress party or not," he said.

"As per the set traditions of Assembly, seats are allocated to the members after taking advice from the leader of Legislative Party.
"The sitting position of Amit Jogi has been changed. If he is not associated with Congress then the Congress legislative party leader cannot suggest his sitting position. That will be the prerogative of the Speaker. Since the confusion prevails, the Congress legislative party leader should clarify the position," he said.

Pandey further said the suggestion given by the CLP leader regarding change of Jogi's sitting position pertains to the breach of privilege of the member who is finding difficulties in discharging his parliamentary duties amid confusion.
Leader of Opposition, T S Singhdeo said he had already clarified that Jogi has been expelled from Congress for six years.
"Although Jogi had appealed to the AICC against his expulsion, the same is pending for final decision. Since no communication has been received from AICC in this direction, the situation stands that Amit Jogi has been expelled from Congress," Singhdeo said.
State unit Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel interrupted

saying "as the opposition leader has clarified his stand, now the chair should give its ruling over the issue".
Amid chaos, Jogi said the sitting position doesn't matter for him as he can raise the issues of the people from any corner of the House.
Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal stated in his ruling that so far as allocation of seats is concerned it is the Speaker's prerogative.
But keeping in view the choices of Leader of the House and Leader of Opposition, their opinions are sought for allocating seating arrangements for their respective legislators. The seating arrangement has been made as per suggestions given by Congress legislative party leader for its members, he stated.

The Speaker added that he will give his ruling on the issue of Amit Jogi's suspension which is under consideration with him.
Jogi, son of former state chief minister Ajit Jogi, was expelled from the primary membership of the Congress in connection with the leaked audio tapes.
The tapes reportedly contain several phone conversations purportedly between Ajit Jogi, Amit and Chief Minister Raman Singh's son-in-law Puneet Gupta, Congress candidate Manturam Pawar and former Jogi loyalists Firoz Siddiqui and Ameen Memon to "fix" the Antagarh bypoll held in 2014.