In pictures: Congress MLAs wearing masks in Gujarat assembly


Gandhinagar, DeshGujarat

BJP enjoys 2/3rd majority on assembly floor, Speaker is BJP MLA, Governor is no more a Congress asset, BJP is in government in state and even in centre. Congress has technically no opportunity to stop any bill or make any desturbance beyond a limit during ongoing budget session of Gujarat assembly.

The only part left with Congress is to look for media attention. And that’s what the party does. Congress as an opposition group looks for maximum photo opportunity plus coverage in print and footage on TV channels.

For this, some drama is required.

So for today, Congress party MLAs wore masks inside the assembly house. They disturbed Governor’s speech and later also staged walk out. Presented above are the photographs of Congress MLAs sitting in the house wearing masks in connection with swine flu situation in state.

Generally, the state government calls two-three days session of assembly in winter and monsoon. But for technical reason it has to call about a month long session during summer to pass budget proposals. Technically each department’s budget proposal is needed to be discussed and passed on floor of the assembly, and therefore unlike other sessions, it is government needs to call budget session for about a month long period.

About a month long budget session offers best chance to opposition Congress party. MLAs of Congress try their best to show presence of party in state during budget session.

They do everything to make headline, to generate a photo opportunity and to offer a good video footage.

They attempt their best to expose the government on number of frontiers.

They shout slogans, create chaos, they rush to well, knowing well that they will be flushed out of the house. They hold rally, they threaten gherao of assembly complex, they face detention, they shout slogans, hit desks, torn papers, wear different things and colors to show protest, hold mock assembly wearing masks and do lot of other things during budget session.

Knowing this well, assembly Speaker follows a tradition that whenever any MLA enters into a well(a space infront of Speaker’s chair) he/she is suspended, or in worst case flushed out by marshals. The state government tries to curtail the session in its latter part, adjusting some holidays and festival leaves. It happened last year.


(C) DeshGujarat