The Speaker of the Assembly is from the Ruling Party but once he is made Speaker, he is expected to behave in a non-partisan manner and uphold the dignity of the House.
It’s a tough thing to be neutral when you have been conditioned to criticising the Opposition your entire political career but there have been people who managed to maintain the respect of the position.
Coming to Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, he has been giving statements to the media asking the people to inflict a crushing defeat on YS Jagan.
In the same vein, he is questioning Narendra Modi’s visit to Andhra saying, “How can he show his face here?”
There would be nothing wrong with these comments if Kodela made them in the capacity of an MLA or a Minister in the TDP government. But he is the Speaker of the Assembly and the House has not been dissolved, is it?
Is the Speaker supposed to be neutral only in the House? No, because he enjoys all privileges as Speaker even outside the House.
Why is he then making such politically vitriolic statements and still expect the Opposition to trust in him as Speaker?
Can any MLA from the Opposition trust in his impartiality? And does this behaviour of Kodela not justify the decision of YS Jagan to skip the Assembly sessions?
After all, what fair opportunity will the Opposition get in an Assembly where the Speaker happens to be someone like Kodela?
And when one considers the land-grabbing activities and other anti-social activities and nuisances being resorted to by Kodela’s kith and kin, it has to be admitted that Kodela is a complete misfit for the exalted position he holds.