The dispute between Speaker Ram Chandra Mandal and various political parties in Madhesh province has intensified.
On Thursday, Speaker Mandal decided to remove five provincial assembly members from their positions, alleging they were absent from 10 consecutive meetings. Those penalized were Urmila Devi Singh, Manish Kumar Suman, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Singhasan Sah Kalwar, and Sharda Shankar Prasad Kalwar.
Among them, Singh is from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, while Suman, Yadav, and the two Kalwars are members of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP).
Speaker Mandal belongs to the CPN–UML.
A total of 74 lawmakers from seven parties had registered a proposal accusing the speaker of conduct unbecoming of his office. Speaker Mandal then removed the five lawmakers.
Deputy Speaker Babita Kumari Raut Ishar said that she has annulled the decision, stating that the speaker’s move to punish the lawmakers was an act of revenge.
“Since a proposal accusing the speaker of conduct unbecoming of his office had already been submitted to the deputy speaker on November 13 under Rule 180 (2) (a) of the Provincial Assembly Operation Regulations, and since the date and time for discussion under sub-rule (3) were yet to be determined, the notice dated November 13 from the Madhesh Provincial Assembly Secretariat regarding the vacancy of the positions of five honorable provincial assembly members is a decision made impulsively by the speaker and in retaliation against the proposal,” she said.
She added that since the punished lawmakers were found to be present in the recent vote of confidence session, the notice of action against them has been nullified.
