The Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly  Abdul Rahim Rather, in a strong rebuttal to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has firmly rejected the party’s call for his resignation. The BJP had recently demanded that the Speaker step down, accusing him of being biased and acting in favour of the ruling party. In response, the Speaker challenged the BJP to follow parliamentary procedures and move a no-confidence motion if they were dissatisfied with his conduct.

The BJP’s demand came after a series of heated exchanges in the Assembly, with the opposition alleging that the Speaker was favouring the government in the chair’s decisions. However, the Speaker, in a press conference, dismissed these accusations as baseless and politically motivated. He stated that his actions were in line with the constitution and the rules of the House, emphasizing that the Speaker’s role is to ensure the smooth functioning of the legislature and not to align with any political party.

The Speaker further stressed that the BJP, as the opposition party, had the right to move a no-confidence motion if they believed the Speaker was not performing his duties impartially. He noted that such a motion is the constitutional method for expressing lack of confidence in the Speaker, and not merely demands for resignation without proper procedure.

This development comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, where the regional political dynamics are complex, especially following the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state into a Union Territory. The BJP’s demand and the Speaker’s rejection reflect the ongoing political rivalry and the continuing strain between the ruling party and opposition forces in the state legislature.