Delhi Assembly’s First Session Witnesses Heated Exchanges; Vijender Gupta Elected Speaker

New Delhi: The inaugural session of the Delhi Assembly was marked by intense political confrontations as Vijender Gupta was elected the new Speaker. His nomination was proposed by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and prior to the proceedings, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena administered the oath to pro tem Speaker Arvinder Singh Lovely.

Leader of the Opposition, Atishi, extended congratulations to Speaker Vijender Gupta but simultaneously leveled sharp accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She alleged that portraits of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had been removed from the Chief Minister’s Office, calling it indicative of the BJP’s "anti-Dalit, anti-Sikh, and anti-national mindset."

Her remarks sparked a commotion in the House, leading to heated exchanges between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP legislators. Speaker Gupta intervened, urging Atishi to maintain decorum and refrain from disrupting proceedings. As tensions escalated, he instructed her to take her seat, but continued disruptions prompted him to issue a strong reprimand.

"She is unnecessarily trying to disrupt the proceedings of the House," Gupta remarked, condemning her conduct. "It appears that the opposition is not interested in allowing the House to function smoothly. Any attempts to violate rules or create disorder will not be tolerated."

Reiterating the need for discipline, the Speaker warned, "This House operates with dignity, and any behavior undermining its decorum is unacceptable. I urge the opposition to abandon anarchic tactics and allow the proceedings to continue in a respectable manner."

The session, though commencing on a contentious note, set the stage for what is expected to be a politically charged term in the Delhi Assembly.