New Delhi (India), February 27: On Thursday, Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta officially recognized Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This recognition follows her recent appointment by the AAP.
Atishi, the MLA from Kalkaji, was designated as Leader of Opposition under the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Act, 2001. The Legislative Assembly Secretariat issued a notification confirming her appointment, which states that she is now the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly with immediate effect.
In the recent Delhi Assembly elections, Atishi defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ramesh Bidhuri to win the Kalka ji seat.
However, shortly after the announcement, Atishi and several other AAP MLAs staged a protest outside the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, holding placards reading “Jai Bhim.” The protest was in response to their denial of entry into the Assembly premises. Atishi strongly criticized the action, calling it “undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
Atishi raised concerns over the treatment of suspended legislators, questioning why they were barred from entering the Assembly complex when it had been a common practice for suspended members to remain present in the premises in various legislative bodies. She stated, “Police officers are saying that we (AAP MLAs) are suspended from the assembly, so we will not even be allowed to enter the assembly premises. This is undemocratic and unconstitutional.”
Drawing comparisons with other legislative bodies, Atishi highlighted that in several states and even in Parliament, suspended legislators have not been denied access to assembly premises. She further stressed that being suspended from the house should not prevent an elected legislator from entering the Assembly complex, calling it a violation of their rights as elected representatives.
This protest follows the suspension of 12 AAP MLAs, including Atishi and Gopal Rai, by Speaker Vijender Gupta on Tuesday amid a disturbance in the Assembly during the tabling of the CAG report.
The appointment of Atishi as the Leader of Opposition is a significant move in the Delhi Assembly, as it gives the AAP a formal role in leading the opposition against the ruling government. The controversy surrounding the suspension and the protests is likely to continue to dominate Delhi’s political landscape in the coming days.