BJP demands Dy Speaker post before J&K Assembly’s budget session

Jammu, Feb 18: With the first budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly set to begin in early March, uncertainty continues over the appointment of the Deputy Speaker.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including former Speaker and Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta, have called for filling the post before the session begins, citing democratic traditions.
“As per healthy democratic practices, the Deputy Speaker must be appointed before the budget session,” Gupta told Rising Kashmir. He recalled that during the BJP-PDP coalition government, the National Conference (NC) was given the post of Deputy Speaker.
J&K BJP President Sat Sharma said his party would strongly push for the appointment of a Deputy Speaker. He said BJP, as the main opposition party, deserves the post.
“During our tenure, we gave the Deputy Speaker post to the NC as they were the main opposition party at the time. Now, we will vociferously demand our rightful share in the Assembly,” Sharma said.
The National Conference had previously declined to offer the Deputy Speaker post to the BJP, adding to the current uncertainty.
With the budget session fast approaching, all eyes are on the government’s decision regarding the Deputy Speaker’s appointment.