Jharkhand Assembly Erupts: Ruling MLAs Demand 'Sir' for Speaker, House Adjourned Amidst Unprecedented Protests

The Jharkhand Assembly was plunged into pandemonium on Tuesday as a seemingly innocuous issue – the manner of addressing the Speaker – escalated into a full-blown political showdown, forcing two adjournments of the house. Ruling coalition MLAs, primarily from the JMM, Congress, and RJD, staged an extraordinary protest, vehemently demanding the right to refer to Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto as 'Sir'.

The unusual fracas began during discussions on the supplementary budget, when ruling members, brandishing posters emblazoned with "Speak Sir" and "Sir Bolna Hoga" (Sir must be spoken), surrounded the Speaker's podium.

Chanting slogans like "Sir Bolo" and "Sir Kaho", they disrupted proceedings, creating an atmosphere of utter chaos. The intensity of their demonstration forced Speaker Mahto to adjourn the house for an hour, hoping to de-escalate the situation.

However, the break brought no respite. Upon resumption, the protests reignited with renewed vigor.

The Speaker, visibly exasperated, clarified his position, stating that he had merely requested members to use 'Adhyaksh Mahoday' (Mr. Speaker) or simply 'Mahoday' (Sir/Madam) instead of 'Sir' to uphold the dignity and tradition of the parliamentary institution. He accused certain members of deliberately attempting to stir controversy where none existed, aiming to gain political mileage from a simple suggestion for parliamentary decorum.

Despite the Speaker's appeals for order and understanding, the ruling MLAs remained steadfast in their protest.

The standoff became so entrenched that Speaker Mahto was left with no option but to adjourn the house until the following day, cutting short crucial legislative business.

The bizarre spectacle drew sharp criticism from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP MLAs, who had walked out earlier in protest, lambasted the ruling coalition for squandering valuable house time and disrespecting the legislative process over such a trivial matter.

They accused the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance of prioritizing petty disputes over the pressing issues facing the state.

Attempting to temper the escalating tension, some ruling party members offered their perspectives. Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav suggested that the Speaker should show a degree of leniency, while CPI(ML) Liberation's Binod Singh tried to frame the issue as a minor misunderstanding that could be resolved amicably.

However, their efforts did little to quell the immediate uproar, underscoring the deep-seated friction that had unexpectedly surfaced over a single word.

The incident has sparked widespread debate on parliamentary etiquette and the increasingly theatrical nature of political discourse in state assemblies, leaving many questioning the priorities of the elected representatives.