Seventy-one newly elected legislators are set to join the Kerala Assembly, prompting a special study class on parliamentary practices scheduled for June 17. This initiative aims to acquaint the new members with the rules, traditions, and conventions of the House. The Kerala Assembly comprises 140 members, with 102 in the treasury bench and 38 in the Opposition, including 35 from the Left Front and three BJP legislators.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan are expected to take part in the program. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan announced this move through a special ruling in the Assembly, emphasizing the importance of new members learning from the conduct of senior legislators to maintain the House’s dignity. The Speaker highlighted instances on the session’s opening day where some new members did not adhere to Assembly etiquette, such as standing with their faces turned away from the Chair and lacking proper decorum while moving around the House.
The special class is designed to help new MLAs grasp procedures related to debates, interventions, parliamentary language, and the responsibilities of legislators. With a significant number of first-time members in the current Assembly, the Speaker’s intervention becomes crucial in guiding them through legislative processes. This initiative also follows a politically charged start to the Assembly session, marked by heated exchanges between the treasury and Opposition benches on various issues, including alleged politically motivated transfers of government employees.
The Speaker stressed the importance of upholding the Assembly’s traditions to safeguard the credibility and effectiveness of parliamentary democracy. Encouraging all members to maintain parliamentary conduct and protect the legislature’s dignity, the Speaker emphasized the need for differences of opinion to stay within acceptable boundaries. The upcoming study session, involving the Chief Minister and Opposition Leader, is anticipated to offer new legislators insights into the House’s operations from experienced political leaders.
