Speaker Tangle

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

This refers to the dramatic election of the Lok Sabha Speaker and the biased verdict of UP Assembly Speaker on the question of membership of the Jantantrik BSP MLAs. It is difficult for active politicians, affiliated with political parties, to be perfectly impartial. Though exceptions like P A Sangma are there, past incidents in many Assemblies have shown the Speakers biased in favour of their parties.

In the drama prior to the election of the Lok Sabha Speaker, the BJP betrayed P A Sangma. But it had its political compulsions for doing so. Its acceptance of a Congress Speaker would have sent wrong signals about the weakness of Vajpayee government. But it is unfortunate that present day politics has made the post of Speaker a political playground.

There should be a system whereby persons elected as Speakers should be made to retire from active politics, as in the case of the President and Vice-President, especially in an era of hung Lok Sabhas.

The post of the Lok Sabha Speaker should be upgraded to that of a Vice-President. The President and two Vice-Presidents can then be simultaneously elected by all MPs and MLAs for a term of five years. In case of mid-term vacancy for the post of the President, the senior Vice-President can officiate for the rest of the term.

However, in case of mid-term vacancy for Vice-President, an interim Vice-President can be elected for rest of the term by the MPs only. In case all the three are not able to complete the full term, fresh regular elections for the three posts can be held for a new term. Simultaneous elections for the three top posts can then be instrumental in selecting consensus candidates, a crying need in this era of bitter politics!

To satisfy the inner wishes of MLAs and MPs, the Speakers of state legislatures and Deputy Speakers of the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislatures can be chosen by secret ballots. Any motion to remove the Speaker or Deputy Speaker must be put to vote by secret ballot only on a written demand by at least 40 per cent members of the House.