Om Birla is New Speaker Lok Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Om Birla is New Speaker Lok Sabha

Modi surprises parties by his choice

2 term MP may be elected unanimously

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, June 18:

In a surprise development, the BJP leadership named two-time Lok Sabha MP from Rajasthan Om Birla as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. The 57 year old former Rajasthan Minister will succeed 76-year-old Sumitra Mahajan.

As many as ten political parties belonging to the NDA and non-NDA decided to support his candidature. The Congress decided not to put up a candidate for the post of the Speaker signalling that Om Birla may be declared unanimously elected tomorrow.

Apart from the Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, LJP, Janata Dal (U), MNF, NPP, AIADMK and Apna Dal, the YSR Congress, BJD and others have lent their support to Om Birla.

After the decision was taken this morning by the core committee of the ruling dispensation, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi contacted leaders of various political seeking their support. “I have spoken to Congress leaders .K Suresh and Gulab Nabi Azad. They have not signed till now but I think they would not oppose,” Joshi said today.

Om Birla's selection surprised many as there are large number of veterans in the BJP in Lok Sabha who have huge parliamentary experience. The names of Maneka Gandhi, Radha Mohan Singh, S S Ahluwalia, Jual Oram, were doing the rounds.

But sources in the BJP say that Om Birla is a senior party functionary and has wide ranging experience in legislation as he was three time MLA and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Vasundhararaje Government in Rajasthan. Later, he fell out with her but got protection from the Party high command in Delhi and brought to Lok Sabha in 2014.

In any case, Maharashtra's Manohar Joshi of the Shiv Sena was appointed Speaker in his first term in the Lok Sabha in the year 2002. Joshi succeeded Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi of the TDP, who was was appointed Speaker in his second term as MP. Balayogi had died in a helicopter crash.

Insiders in the BJP say that Om Birla is close to the BJP chief Amit Shah who is also Union Home Minister.

In fact, the decision to make Om Birla as Speaker was announced not by the party but his wife Dr Amita Birla who had gone with her husband to congratulate J P Nadda for assuming the charge of Working President of the party.

It was she who confirmed his nomination.

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Modi invoked new rule to keep “Family” out

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi invoked new rule to keep “Family” out

No two tickets in one family

Birender Singh, Jagdish Mukhi, Sinha upset

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, April 9

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not only strictly implemented the rule that no leader above the age of 75 years be given the Lok Sabha but also invoked a new “No Family Promotion” clause as well.

If 16 senior party leaders including L K Advani, M M Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan, Kariya Munda and others were denied tickets, no new family member or two members of the same family will be given the tickets.

Many senior party leaders have become victims of Modi's this new rule too. Modi had made it clear to even BJP's Gandhis - Maneka and Varun- that only one of them will get the ticket and the other family member should work for the party. Both are sitting MP s of the Lok Sabha and Maneka Gandhi is is a Minister in the Modi government. It transpires that party president Amit Shah and Surface Transport & Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari pleaded that exception should be made in her case. It was also pointed out that Anurag Thakur and Dushyant Singh have been given tickets while Vansundhararaje scindia is sitting MLA. The rule may be made applicable in new cases. Modi made it clear no new family kith & kin will get the ticket if father or mother is active in politics. It was due to this very rule that Assam Governor Jadgish Mukhi had to eat the humble pie. Jagdish Mukhi, a senior Delhi BJP leader wanted Lok Sabha ticket for his son to be given a Lok Sabha from Delhi. But he was told that he would have to quit the post and declare political retirement. Similarly, Minister for Steel Chaudhary Birender Singh is hugely disappointed that his son was refused entry into the electoral arena. His son Birjender Singh is an IAS officer and wants to join the BJP to fight from Rohtak or Hisar. But the BJP was not in a mood to allow senior leader Birender Singh to quit to make room for his son when he is still 73 years. Even his wife is an MLA from Haryana. Therefore, he should wait for sometime. Modi's new policy that no two persons will be given ticket made several others unhappy. R K Sinha, a sitting BJP MP of the Rajya Sabha and close confidante of PM Modi wanted his son Rituraj Sinha to be fielded from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat. The seat had fallen vacant after Shatrughan Sinha became a rebel and denied the ticket. When Sinha met senior BJP leaders and tried to convince them that Rituraj will win the seat due to various factor, he was told that “family rule clause” is preventing the ticket to his son. Sensing the PM's tough stand, the leaders from states revised their proposals and withdrew all proposals to give tickets to kith & kin.

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BJP axes 15th leader above 75 years age

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

BJP axes 15^th leader above 75 years age

No Decision on Sumitra Mahajan yet

Malini Gaur in Race 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, April 2

With the denial of ticket to 15^th leader Lilabhai Vaghela who was 83 years old by the BJP high command in Patan, Gujrat, the last of the legends Sumitra Mahajan is miffed over the delay in announcing her candidature. The 8^th term Lok Sabha MP from Indore and Speaker of the Lok Sabha is waiting with bated breath for the green signal to contest 9^th time from the coveted seat.

The BJP veteran was so upset that she chose to stay away from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mai Bhi Chowkidar’ event in Indore on Sunday last. Until the event it was widely believed that the “Tai” as she is popularly known in the BJP, will get the ticket. Her argument convinced some of the BJP leaders that Speaker is not a government post but a Constitutional one and 75 year rule should not apply in this case.

But the the fact that the BJP has showed the door to 15 leaders so far who were above the age of 75 years, Indore is the only seat where BJP has not declared the candidate. Sumitra Mahajan's absence from the “Mai Bhi Chowkidar” event has triggered speculations that all is not well.

Though some other BJP leaders, including Indore-V MLA Mahendra Hardia and Indore-III MLA Akash Vijayvargiya too skipped the program, it was Sumitra Mahajan's absence that triggered speculations about the possibility to becoming the 16^th victim of the rule.

A miffed Mahajan has not even added the prefix Chowkidar to their official twitter handle in support of the PM Narendra Modi’s Mai Bhi Chowkidar call. She is among the handful of such leaders. May be, she has got wind of the impending decision and staying away from media glare for the past sometime.

This development has, however, elated the supporters of Indore Mayor Malini Gaur in the party. She is a BJP loyalist and brought laurels to the city by getting the Cleanest City of the country for the past two years. The Prime Minister is very happy with her performance and wants to elevate her. She was not given the MLA ticket when the Assembly polls took place as party general secretary Kailash Vijayvergiya gave it to his son. Now he has been told to confine himself to West Bengal.

The last date of filing nomination papers is April 29 for Indore, where polling will be held on May 19.

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Tough steps against corrupt Mps, MLAs in sight,

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Tough steps against corrupt Mps, MLAs in sight,

regular monitoring of their assets under consideration

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Nov 26

In an unusual move, a judgment of the Supreme Court regarding creation of a permanent institutional mechanism to “monitor the assets and sources of income of Legislators and their associates” on a continuous basis was discussed.

It transpires that senior officials of the secretariats of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Department of Personnel, Election Commission of India and about 20 state legislatures attended the meeting.

The meeting was held in the Parliament House to discuss various aspects of implementation of the SC order. Obviously, the presiding officers of the two houses, the Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan strongly felt that the SC judgment be followed up in letter & spirit.

In its judgment, the apex court had said in February this year in the Lok Prahari Vs.Union of India, that a permanent institutional mechanism be created to continuously monitor the assets and sources of the income of the Legislators. As if this was not enough, the SC had ordered that the assets of their associates including spouses and dependents be also included. As if this was not enough, the SC said the body should take appropriate action in case of disproportionate increase in their assets during the tenure of the membership, including disqualification from membership of the Legislatures’.

It emerged during the discussion that there are different rules and norms in different legislatures for members to declare their assets and liabilities soon after their election. There is no provision to ensure compliance of the same. Besides, there is no provision requiring such periodic declaration of assets once they are elected on a regular basis. Strangely, there is no provision under any Act of Parliament or Rules of respective legislatures to disqualify members from the Legislatures on account of acquisition of disproportionate assets.

It was felt that the implementation of the direction of the apex court may require necessary amendment in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 making such disproportionate acquisition of assets a ground for disqualification from the membership of the Legislatures. It was also pointed out that this Act is applicable only to the elected MPs in respect of requiring disclosure of assets and liabilities under Section 75 A of the Act. Invoking Sub-section 2 of this Section, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Speaker of Lok Sabha have issued the ‘Members of Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Rules,2004’. Under these Rules, MPs need to make such declarations within 90 days of their election to Parliament.

Discussions will further continue.

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Special Report : PM-Led Lokpal Panel meets on Sep. 4

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special Report

PM-Led Lokpal Panel meets on Sep. 4

Kharge refuses again,

8-Member Search Committee tio be formed

New Delhi, Sep. 1

The Lokpal panel comprising of Prime Minister Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and eminent jurist Mukul Rohtagi will meet on Tuesday next, September 4.

This will be the fifth meet of the Lokpal panel to set up Search Committee which in turn will select country's first Lokpal. The Search Committee will comprise of eight eminent jurists, former judges and others.

The Prime Minister is keen to fast-track the selection process of Lokpal and wants the institution to come into being during 2018 itself. It was largely because of this very reason that the 5^th meeting of the Lokpal panel is taking place within a fortnight of the 4^th meeting on August 22.

It was decided that all four Lokpal panel members including the PM will furnish five names each. Kharge who has been skipping the meeting, was requested to send the names of five persons for the search committee. But he declined saying that he will be not be part of the process until made a full member. Therefore, it is possible that the Lokpal panel will have 20 names to be considered for the search committee when it meets on on September 4 setting the stage for selecting the Lokpal.

Its a different matter that the selection of country's first Lokpal is turning out to be an Herculean task for the Modi government. Since he is keen that Lokpal is functional at the earliest as it was one of his poll promises. The Supreme Court is also monitoring the process of Lokpal selection and even rapped the government on previous occasions.

However, the process of selecting Lokpal is cumbersome as the 8-member Search Committee will invite applications for the post of 9 Lokpals through advertisement in newspapers. The Lokpal will be a 9-member body.

It may be mentioned that the same task was undertaken by the Manmohan Singh government after the Lokpal & Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013. A search committee comprising of 8 members headed by Justice K T Thomas was constituted in February 2014 which invited applications for Lokpal. There were 300 applicants for 9 posts of Lokpal. But suddenly Justice Thomas decided to quit and the process came to a grinding halt. It will be a miracle if the Modi government can complete the task during the remaining period of its term.

PM, others asked to give 5 names each for Lokpal Panel

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

PM, others asked to give 5 names each for Lokpal Panel

Selecting Lokpal a Herculean task 

New Delhi, July 24

The selection of country's first Lokpal is turning out to be most complicated and Herculean task for the Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learning the ropes even four years after assuming office and it is highly unlikely that Lokpal will be place before the next General Elections.

This became clear when the first meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee comprising of the PM, Chief Justice of India Dipak Mishra, Speaker of the Lok Sabha Sumitra Mahajan and eminent jurist Mukul Rohtagi was held to form the search committee on July 19. Since Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha refused to attend the meeting for being invited as “Special invitee” and not as full member, the Selection Committee decided to proceed.

It was decided by the members including the PM that all of them furnish the names of five experts each at the next meeting of the committee. Even Kharge will be requested to furnish five names of experts and out of this mega list of 25 experts, the Lokpal Search Committee will be constituted. The Search Committee will comprise of eight members who will be selected out of these 25.

Interestingly, the four members who attended the first meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee under the Modi era were finding it difficult to draw the names of five persons capable of being members of the Search Committee. Two members felt they needed time to come out with the names while the PM looked on. Mukul Rohtagi reported to have suggested that experts from all corners should be picked up and then a short-list of eight can be drawn. The government will make a special request to Kharge to send the names even if he is not willing to attend the meeting.

It was not clear when the government will hold the next meeting of the Lokpal Selection Committee. It was largely because of this very reason that the Supreme Court rapped the government in the court today.

But the process is so cumbersome that it is unlikely to be completed anytime soon because the 8-member search committee will invite applications from all over the country through a proper advertisement in newspapers for the posts of 9-member Lokpal body.

It may be mentioned that the same task was undertaken by the Manmohan Singh government after the Lokpal & Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013. A search committee comprising of 8 members headed by Justice K T Thomas was constituted in February 2014 which invited applications for Lokpal. 300 persons applied. But suddenly Justice Thomas quit and process came to a grinding halt. It will be a miracle if the Modi government can complete the task during the remaining period of its term.

Caste in silence

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Most of the policy roadblocks the Narendra Modi government now faces that might have been set up by its predecessor, the Congress; but BJP, today's ruling party, was complicit in the acts. The 2013 Land Acquisition Act is a classic example. Sumitra Mahajan, currently the Lok Sabha Speaker, headed the committee that vetted the bill; she let it pass with an approving nod. During discussion of the bill in the Lower House, BJP's Lok Sabha leader Sushma Swaraj was among its most vocal supporters. But Modi wanted it to be overturned from day one he came to power. Such excessive exhibition of interest by BJP in populist policies, with a potential to backfire, has become Modi's albatross.