Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress floor leader, is on track to have his suspension from the Lok Sabha revoked in the coming days, as he appeared before the House Privileges Committee on Wednesday. Officials have indicated that the committee has opted to recommend the reversal of the suspension to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Once the Speaker receives the recommendation, prompt action is expected to be taken.
Chowdhury’s suspension, which was imposed on August 10, had been prompted by an investigation into alleged “gross and deliberate misconduct.” This followed his perceived “inappropriate” remarks made during a debate concerning a non-confidence motion against the government. The comments centered on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived “silence” concerning the unrest in Manipur.
Despite his suspension, Chowdhury maintained that the punitive measure was unwarranted, emphasizing that his intention was not to offend. He argued that if his remarks were indeed inappropriate, they could have been expunged from the record.
The House Privileges Committee, led by Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Sunil Singh, also convened last week to discuss Chowdhury’s case. While the committee acknowledged the gravity of the charges, sources familiar with the situation suggested that his seniority as a parliamentarian could influence his reinstatement.
An official clarified that the committee adheres strictly to conventions and rules. He also emphasized that Chowdhury’s appearance before the committee allowed him the opportunity to present his side of the matter.
Highlighting Chowdhury’s significance as the floor leader of the largest Opposition party and the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, another Lok Sabha official emphasized his ongoing importance within parliamentary proceedings.
Chowdhury, who has served five terms as a Member of Parliament, notably became the first floor leader of the primary Opposition party to face suspension from the House.
Following the debate on the no-confidence motion, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi put forward a resolution against Chowdhury. Speaker Birla had asserted that Chowdhury’s conduct during the debate was deemed inappropriate.
In response, two days later, Chowdhury used the metaphor of being “hanged” and then subjected to a trial-like process to express his viewpoint on the situation.
