Mehta Wins Trust Vote Unopposed

Daulatbhai Desai, a member of the speaker's panel whowas in the chair, announced his decision after a head count inthe 182- member house, which has an effective strength of 179with the death of the speaker H L Patel and resignation of two members.

The trouble in the house started when the Chief Ministermoved the motion proposing that Desai conduct the proceedings as deputy speaker Chandubhai Dabhi washospitalised yesterday after he complained of chest pain.

Congress members protested against the proposal and raised slogans. Joined by split section of the BJP and some independents, they threw pin-cushions and mike stands at the acting speaker and the Chief Minister.

 

Desai then called in the marshalls and policemen to physically remove the opposition Congress members and their associates from the house.

An agitated Desai was heard saying to the opposition members, you are not human beings. You have no humility. Get out. You dared to attack the speaker and the Chief Minister when the house was going to pay respect to the departed speaker Patel and former president Neelam

Sanjeeva Reddy.

The marshalls and the police had a tough time removing the

opposition members, including former Chief Ministers Chhabildas Mehta and Amarsinh Chaudhary even as some

Congress MLAs continued to hurl mike stands and pin-cushions at the Chief Minister and the acting speaker.

After they were removed from the house, there were hardly any mike stands visible on the opposition benches, including those of Chaudhary and Chhabildas Mehta.