A rare and serious confrontation disrupted proceedings in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) in Lucknow on Thursday, leading to a dramatic walkout by the opposition. The face-off involved Council Chairperson Kunwar Manvendra Singh and the Leader of the Opposition, Lal Bihari Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Heated Exchange Over Supplementary Questions
The outburst was triggered when Yadav stood up to ask a supplementary question following a minister's reply. The minister concerned had responded to two out of the three questions posed by the opposition leader. When Yadav stood up again to press further, Chairperson Singh instructed him to sit down. This directive sparked a prolonged argument that lasted for over fifteen minutes, with Yadav refusing to comply with the Chair's orders.
Witnesses reported a tense atmosphere as Singh repeatedly warned Yadav not to provoke him. The Chairperson asserted that the ministers would not respond according to Yadav's demands. Yadav, however, insisted that asking questions was his constitutional right as an elected member. The argument escalated when Yadav accused the Chair of being partisan and alleged that such actions were intended to "kill democracy" within the House.
Forced Exit and Threat of 'Other Means'
As the stalemate continued, Chairperson Kunwar Manvendra Singh finally exercised his authority and ordered Lal Bihari Yadav to leave the House. Yadav's refusal to exit forced Singh to threaten the use of 'other means' to enforce his order on multiple occasions. This standoff highlighted the severe breakdown in parliamentary decorum.
Following the order, Yadav, along with other members of the Samajwadi Party, staged a protest walkout from the Council chamber. The walkout underscored the deepening rift between the ruling dispensation and the principal opposition party in the state's upper house.
Apology and Return to Proceedings
Amid the turmoil, an independent member, Raj Bahadur Singh Chandel, intervened with a suggestion. He proposed that if Yadav offered an apology before the end of the day's business, it should be considered by the Chair. This intervention paved the way for a resolution. Later, before the proceedings concluded for the day, Lal Bihari Yadav was allowed to re-enter and join the House's work, signaling a temporary de-escalation of the conflict.
The incident has raised serious questions about the functioning of the legislative body and the maintenance of order. Such public and protracted clashes between the presiding officer and the Leader of the Opposition are uncommon and point to heightened political tensions in Uttar Pradesh's legislative process.
