In a special session of the West Bengal Assembly, Speaker Biman Banerjee administered the oath to two MLAs. The session was marked by the absence of BJP MLAs, who did not participate in the ceremony.
Assembly session highlights
During the special session, the West Bengal Assembly did not follow the directives issued by the Governor. Instead, Speaker Biman Banerjee proceeded with the swearing-in ceremony for two newly elected MLAs.
By-election winners demand convention
Newly elected MLAs Sarkar from Bhagabangola in Murshidabad district and Banerjee from Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district won their seats in recent by-elections held alongside the Lok Sabha polls. The governor had invited them to take the oath at the Raj Bhavan last month, but they declined, citing convention that by-election winners should be sworn in by the speaker or deputy speaker in the Vidhan Sabha.
MLAs' sit-in protest
Demanding their oath-taking ceremony be held in the Vidhan Sabha, Sarkar and Banerjee staged a sit-in protest in the assembly complex for several days, leading to the eventual special session called by Speaker Biman Banerjee.
