The standoff between Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma intensified on Monday, with Sharma questioning why the yardstick of seniority was applied only to BJP members while first-time MLAs of the ruling alliance were appointed as heads of non-financial committees.
Responding to the Speaker's defence of the committee appointments, Sharma said the claims smacked of an attempt to shield wrongdoing rather than address the BJP's reservations. He reiterated that his objection was specifically about the six non-financial committees, not the financial ones, and that the PAC chairmanship given to the BJP was not a favour but a well-established convention followed across Parliament, states and Union Territories.
Sharma said the Speaker's discretion in nominating committee heads cannot be driven by party interests and must follow the principle of proportionate representation and established conventions.
