In a display of rare political unity, the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Prem Kumar as its new Speaker. The veteran leader, who recently secured a record ninth victory from the Gaya Town constituency, was the sole candidate for the prestigious post.
A Unanimous Voice Vote and Bipartisan Gesture
Pro-tem Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav informed the House that Prem Kumar was the only leader to file a nomination for the Speaker’s post. Consequently, he was declared "unanimously elected" through a voice vote supported by members from both the treasury and opposition benches. The election was immediately followed by resonant chants of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Jai Shri Ram" within the assembly hall.
In a significant gesture of bipartisan respect, the 70-year-old Prem Kumar was escorted to the Speaker's chair by two key figures: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. At the Chief Minister's request, all 242 members of the House, along with cabinet ministers, rose to give the newly elected Speaker a standing ovation.
"Aye Khada Ho Na Bhai": A Moment of Camaraderie
After formally occupying the chair and receiving congratulations from CM Nitish Kumar, Prem Kumar watched as the Chief Minister urged all members to stand once more as a mark of respect. A notable moment of informal camaraderie ensued when Tejashwi Yadav was slow to rise. Nitish Kumar was heard saying, "Aye khada ho na bhai" (Hey, stand up, brother), prompting the opposition leader and all other MLAs and ministers to greet the Speaker.
Speaker Prem Kumar's Maiden Address: A Pledge for Impartiality
In his first speech as the presiding officer, Prem Kumar described his unanimous election as a matter of pride but emphasized it as a greater responsibility. He outlined his vision for the House, rooted in democratic ideals.
Key points from his address included:
- The beauty of democracy lies in diverse ideologies sitting together for the state's development.
- His primary duty is to ensure every member can express views with dignity, while protecting House traditions and constitutional rules.
- Both the treasury and opposition benches would be equally important to him, assuring complete impartiality.
- He expressed confidence that the House's debates would help build a brighter future for Bihar, quoting Mahatma Gandhi: "The future depends on what we do today."
Opposition's Expectations and House Proceedings
Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav, while congratulating the Speaker, reminded him of his roots in the "land of knowledge and salvation (Gaya)". He expressed the opposition's expectation that the Chair would function impartially. Given the ruling alliance's numerical strength, Tejashwi specifically urged the Speaker to pay special attention to protecting the rights of the opposition.
Before adjourning the day's proceedings, Speaker Prem Kumar thanked the members for their trust and sought their continued cooperation. The day also saw the swearing-in of members who could not take the oath on the inaugural day of the session on Monday.
