Cong-LF stage walk out from WB House as Speaker dismisses

There was pandemonium in West Bengal assembly Tuesday as the opposition Congress and Left Front staged a noisy walkout after protesting strongly against Speaker Biman Bannerjee for dismissing discussion on their no confidence motion against the TMC government for want of time.

Soon after the motion was moved in the House, the Chair asked the opposition Congress and Left Front members, who were supporting the motion, to stand up.

With altogether 37 members out of the total 294 members in favour of the motion, it was admitted by the Speaker.

During recess the Business Advisory Committee of the House discussed on whether the motion could be discussed Wednesday in the House due to its tight schedule and decided against it since there was lack of time.

When the speaker announced this after the recess, members of both the Congress and Left Front vociferously protested against the Speaker's decision.

Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan and LF Legislature Party leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that there was no democracy in the House and it is run as per the whims of a few.

The slogan shouting Congress and LF members rushed to the well of the house, threw papers at the Chair and even tried to remove the mace from its table.

The security personnel in the House managed to protect the mace.

The Opposition members then staged a walk out to mark their protest.

The Speaker told newsmen at his chamber, "I had received the notice for a no confidence motion and the Opposition had the requisite numbers to move it. But it could not be discussed in the House during this brief winter session due to non availability of adequate time".

The winter session of the house began on November 16 and ends on November 29.