"Won't step down until trust vote.": Bihar speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary
Patna, Feb 7: Bihar assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, against whom the newly formed NDA government has moved a no-confidence motion, on Wednesday dug in his heels.
The senior RJD leader made it clear that he will not resign before the commencement of the budget session on February 12, when the Nitish Kumar government is also scheduled to seek a trust vote.
However, Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari, who is from the chief minister's JD(U), asserted that Chaudhary would not be allowed to conduct the proceedings of the House in view of the no-confidence motion.
"I am not going to resign. I will be in the assembly on February 12 and conduct proceedings of the House as per rules", Chaudhary told reporters.
It was pointed out to him that according to the BJP-led coalition, which has snatched power from the Congress-RJD combine supported by the Left, a Speaker cannot be in the Chair with a no-confidence motion pending.
He replied, "As per rules, the Speaker should take a decision within 14 days of the receipt of notice for a no-confidence motion. The same has been received by me only today".
However, when approached by journalists with queries about the crisis, Hazari, the Deputy Speaker, said, "In view of the change of guard in the state, the Speaker should have given up the post. He will have to go. His posturing seems to have followed instructions from his party leadership".
"But, he will have to abide by rules. The proceedings, till his removal, will be carried out with the Deputy Speaker in Chair," asserted Hazari.
The Deputy Speaker also pointed out, "It has always been a tradition in Bihar that the Speaker is chosen by the ruling side. After a majority of MLAs moved a no-confidence motion against him (Chaudhary), he should have voluntarily stepped down. The post of the Speaker is an exalted one. He should have acted keeping it in mind."
Incidentally, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha had similarly refused to resign in 2022, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had quit the NDA and formed a new government with the Mahagathbandhan.
Later, Sinha had announced his resignation on the floor of the House, avoiding the no-confidence vote.
Sinha is now the Deputy CM in the new NDA government.
BJP leaders and former ministers Nand Kishor Yadav and Amarendra Pratap Singh are now said to be in the race for the Speaker's job.
Hazari was also asked about apprehensions that Chaudhary could pull a fast one on the NDA if he remained in the chair.
The Deputy Speaker replied, "This is a government formed after a letter of support from more than half of the MLAs was submitted before the Governor. The formation, which is in power in the state, also rules the Centre. There is no scope for defection. Though some may like to day-dream".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
