Out of 199 legislators, 197 took oath on day 1 of the new vidhan sabha. some like gangadevi fumbled while reading out the pledge, while others like Ashok lahoti took the oath in sanskrit.
Five-time Congress MLA CP Joshi will be the Speaker of 15th Rajasthan Assembly. He is expected to be elected unanimously as the Opposition and Independent MLAs have also extended support to his candidature.
Joshi filed the nomination paper for the post on Tuesday, the first day of the Assembly session. He was accompanied by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC chief and deputy CM Sachin Pilot, ex CM Vasundhara Raje, pro-tem speaker Gulab Chand Kataria and Parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal.
Independent MLAs and other party leaders including BSP were present when Joshi submitted his paper. By 12 pm, which was the deadline for submitting paper, no other candidate came forward and thus Joshi would become the Speaker unopposed.
The first session began on Tuesday with the oath taking ceremony of the newly-elected MLAs in the House which was chaired by pro-tem speaker Gulab Chand Kataria. The session is likely to continue till nine days, though decision in this regard will be taken by the BAC (Business Advisory Committee) meeting.
The ruling Congress has decided to appoint Mahesh Joshi as chief whip and Mahendra Choudhary as deputy chief whip. The post of deputy Speaker has been kept vacant and will be filled later. The previous Vasundhara Raje government running on the same line had made Rao Rajendra Singh the deputy speaker in later phase of the government.
The session begun on Tuesday with recital of national song Vande Mataram followed by oath ceremony of the MLAs. The first day, was kept reserved for oaths while on Wednesday the Speaker will be appointed. Governor Kalyan Singh will address the house on Thursday and after his address the debate will take place on it in the coming days. The session will witness important bills on the issues which the first cabinet of Gehlot government approved.
Different shades of politics
Lahoti takes oath in Sanskrit
Former Jaipur Mayor and Sanganer MLA Ashok Lahoti, who became legislator first time, took oath in Sanskrit that surprised many members present in the House. He, however, paused a couple of times while reading the pledge. All members welcomed his efforts by thumping the tables. It is not the first time that any member took oath in Sanskrit. In 2014 when Raje government came to power then MLAs Arun Chraturvedi, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Kailash Bhansali and Mohanlal Gupta took oath in Sanskrit. Meanwhile, BJP legislators chanted Bhrata Mata Ki Jai slogans in the House after Vande Mataram.
Two women MLAs fumble during pledge
Two women MLAs Indira and Gangadevi fumbled while taking oath in the House. Pro-tem speaker GC Kataria helped them read the pledge by reciting a few paras. Bagru MLA Gangadevi has mentioned literate in her education qualification in affidavits submitted to state election department. Meanwhile Youth affairs minister (Independent) Ashok Chandna was not present in the House at the time when the pro-tem speaker called his name for oath. He skipped his due to absence and then other members took oath. However, when Chandna came to know about his turn he reached the house and took oath.
Behror MLA rides on his tractor
At a time when newly-elected MLAs prefer to flaunt their swanky cars, Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav reached Assembly riding a tractor. Yadav said as he belongs to a farmer family, he came on tractor. He argued that tractor has been lucky for him as well as his family. On the other hand Mahua Independent MLA Om Prakash Hudla reached the House bare foot. “I had pledged to enter Assembly barefoot soon after BJP denied me a ticket,” he said. Sadulpur MLA and discus thrower, Krishna Poonia, came dressed in her athlete attire wearing her medal. PHED minister BD Kalla wearing a tri-colour turban was also a major attraction.
197 MLAs out of 199 take oath on day 1
197 MLAs out of 199 took oath of the Constitution of India. Congress MLA Hemaram Choudhary could not reach the House and hence he will take oath in coming days. Pro-tem speaker GC Kataria was already administered oath by governor Kalyan Singh on Monday. PCC chief and deputy CM Sachin Pilot also took oath on Tuesday in the House and sat beside UDH and parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal. While from the BJP, Vasundhara Raje sat next to deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore. Congress leader CP Joshi sat next to tourism minister Vishvendra Singh.
Allow pledge in Rajasthani: MLAs to Kataria
Many legislators raised the demand to take oath in Rajasthani language. BJP MLA Biharilal even argued with pro-tem speaker Kataria asking him to allow him to take oath in Rajasthani, but Kataria did not permit him. Biharilal was wearing a mask while raising demand of recognition of Rajasthani as a language. Other MLAs also raised this demand. Rajasthani language does not enjoy official status, as it is not yet been included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Hence it is not lawful to take oath in the language and this led to Kataria rejecting the demand of many MLAs.
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