Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation & CAD, Food & Civil Supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy addressed the selection of Pro-tem Speaker in the Assembly, emphasizing adherence to seniority and procedural norms.
#WATCH | Hyderabad: Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy says, "Going by seniority in Assembly, I should have been the pro-tem Speaker, the senior most MLA in the Congress party, but since I have taken oath as a minister, the procedure didn't allow me to be a pro-tem Speaker. So… pic.twitter.com/nNcEknSFSp
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2023
Reddy expressed his claim to the role based on seniority within the Assembly, citing his status as the senior most MLA in the Congress party. However, as he had already taken the oath as a minister, procedural constraints prevented him from assuming the Pro-tem Speaker position.
In light of this, the focus shifted to other 6-term MLAs, ultimately leading to the selection of Akbaruddin Owaisi as the Pro-tem Speaker. Reddy clarified that Owaisi, being the most senior MLA across all parties, was a natural choice. He highlighted that similar decisions had been made in the past, citing the BRS government's appointment of an AIMIM MLA as Pro-tem Speaker.
Reddy asserted that the decision was in line with established procedures, devoid of any ulterior motives. Regarding future relations with AIMIM, he deferred the discussion to state and national leadership, indicating a need for comprehensive deliberation and direction from the party. The selection of Akbaruddin Owaisi as Pro-tem Speaker was presented as a pragmatic decision aligned with democratic norms and historical precedents.
