New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party has lost the post of Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, as its strength has fallen short of the required 10 MLCs in the 100-member House.
On 27 May, according to a statement by Principal Secretary Rajesh Singh, the Samajwadi Party, with its 11 members in the Legislative Council, was the largest opposition party.
Based on this, Lal Bihari Yadav was recognized as the Leader of the Opposition.
“On 7 July the number of members of the Samajwadi Party in the council was reduced to nine, which is one less than the number of 10 leaders required to have the status of the main opposition.
“Thus, recognition of Lal Bihari Yadav as Leader of Opposition is hereby terminated by the Speaker with immediate effect. He continues to be the Leader of the Samajwadi Party in the Council,” the statement issued on Thursday said.
Criticizing the decision, Yadav called it undemocratic and against the rules.
“The Leader of the Opposition is the Leader of the entire Opposition in the House. De-recognising it by citing wrong rules is an attempt to weaken and tarnish democracy. This House is trying to weaken the Opposition and suppress its voice. “
“The Speaker’s decision appears to be murder of democracy and gross violation of rules and regulations,” he said in a statement here.
Reacting to the development, Samajwadi Party leader Sanjay Lather, who served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council before Yadav, said that the leader of the second largest party in the House gets the post.
“Since the Samajwadi Party is the second largest party in the Legislative Council, its leader should be recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. We will go to court against it,” he said.