Congress leader Tariq Anwar slammed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s decision to approve a separate seating arrangement for 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and said that the presiding officer is expected to adopt an impartial perspective.
Speaking with ANI, Anwar said that the decision was on expected lines.
“This was bound to happen….A person is expected to adopt an impartial perspective and work independently upon assuming the role of Speaker,” he said.
The Congress leader said the decision suits the BJP, the party to which Birla belongs.
The Speaker had heard the views of TMC and its rebel faction over the past few weeks before taking the decision.
The Monsoon session of the Parliament begins tomorrow. Birla approved separate seating in the Lok Sabha for 20 MPs who broke away from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
However, the merger of rebel TMC MPs with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) has not yet been approved by the Speaker.
The government has invited the rebel TMC group to the all-party meeting being held today.
Last month, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar led a total of 20 MPs and announced a merger with a regional NCPI. Shiv Sena (UBT) has also witnessed a split, with six Lok Sabha MPs joining the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Speaker has also approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) rebel MPs with the Shiv Sena.
This takes the Shiv Sena’s strength to 13, reducing UBT Sena to three members in the Lok Sabha.