Withdraw move of leader of the Opposition status: CLP to Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami

GUWAHATI: The Assam Congress Legislature Party (ACLP) has written a letter to Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami urging to revoke the notification issued by the latter's office to withdraw the leader of the Opposition status from Assam CLP leader Debabrata Saikia.

"It is unfortunate and shocking that at the fag end of the 14th Assam Legislative Assembly, you consider it appropriate to withdraw the status of Leader of the Opposition status from Indian National Congress (INC), which is without any ambiguity the single-largest Opposition party in the current Assembly," stated Assam CLP secretary Durga Bhumij in the letter to Goswami.

"Due to the sudden demise of few members and defection of few others belonging to INC, the number of members has decreased but we are still the single-largest Opposition party in the House. That, as per Section 2 of Salary and Allowances of the Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Act, 1978, leader of Opposition denotes that member of the Legislative Assembly who, for the time being, is the Leader of the Opposition party having the greatest numerical strength in the House and recognized as such by the Speaker. Hence, there is no scope of any 1/6th rule of Quorum being applicable for the purpose of deciding the position of Leader of the Opposition, when the ACT as well as RULE have amply clarified the definition," the Assam CLP argued in their letter. "I, therefore, call upon you to rise above the party line and desist from doing something which is not only arbitrary, but also unlawful and against the statutory provisions. I trust that your good office will revoke the Notification issued vide memo No. LLE 8/2016/883 dated 01.01.2021 and forthwith restore Debabrata Saikia as the Leader of the Opposition, Assam Legislative Assembly," the Assam CLP secretary added.

Also Read: 'Leader of Opposition' Debabrata Saikia loses status in House

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