Speaker has a tough job on hand

Of late, the job of an Assembly Speaker has become tough and complicated. He has to dispense off many a tangle and during the past three years things are shaping up not to the desired effect of any conservative person.

The spate of resignations, methodology and logic to be applied for individual and group resignations, pressure from members, party leaders and other outside issues directly influencing the proceedings have been the order of the day in the State after the death of Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

The latest and the most complicated test for Speaker Nadendla Manohar being the disqualification issue of those who voted against the party whip.

While there is some clarity on part of the Congress members who stood up in support of the no confidence motion moved by the main Opposition TDP that they defied party whip, PRP state of affairs is confused.

PRP has merged with Congress for all practical purposes. However, there is a small legal hitch and the matter was dragged to court. In such circumstances, PRP is in a piquant situation. PRP members did not get the ministerial berths for the same reason and as rumoured Chiranjeevi did not get the nod for any position at the Centre.

In this backdrop, Allagadda MLA, Sobha Nagi Reddy challenged Chiranjeevi saying that he has no right to issue a whip as the party does not exist following the merger with Congress party. On this premise, she contends, the disqualification urge does not stand ground.

However, Chiranjeevi maintains that he has the power to issue a whip and she has to adhere to it as she was elected on a PRP ticket. All members elected on the party ticket need to follow the whip, he says.

The confusion apart, the Speaker has to wade through the lengthy process, if he decides, to take up the issue on a case by case basis. He has asked Sobha Nagi Reddy to reply or clarify in person as to why she should not be disqualified under the anti-defection law.

It remains to be seen how fast and how effectively, the Speaker resolves this contentious issue.