Rajasthan Assembly in Turmoil: Six-Month Suspension for Congress MLA Bhakar

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani suspended Congress MLA Mukesh Bhakar for six months after he refused to leave the assembly and continued to shout slogans. His suspension was initially only for the current session, but ongoing disruptions led to an extended suspension. Congress leaders condemned the decision as undemocratic.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Tuesday debarred Congress MLA Mukesh Bhakar for six months following an overnight dharna in the Well of the House by his party legislators, who had prevented the marshals from evicting him after his first suspension a day earlier.

Bhakar’s refusal to leave even when proceedings resumed on Tuesday morning, coupled with his continued slogan-shouting, prompted Speaker Devnani to extend the suspension. The legislative chaos led the Speaker to adjourn the House sine die.

The initial suspension of Bhakar was for “indecent behaviour” limited to the current session, but escalations brought a six-month penalty. Congress members decried the move as unconstitutional and a means to silence opposition voices. They pledged to challenge this perceived autocratic action by the BJP at both state and national levels.