New Delhi, June 4
It was baptism by fire for Mr Somnath Chatterjee today when on the first day of his office as the Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha, he had to conduct the business amid din and turmoil.

Mr Chatterjee was left with no choice as the BJP-led Opposition plunged the House into disorder on the issue of ‘tainted ministers’ and Akali Dal members staged a walkout to protest inclusion of Mr Jagdish Tytler in the Union Ministry.

As soon as the Speaker wanted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to introduce the members of his Council of Ministers, Leader of the Opposition L K Advani pleaded with the Chair that he be allowed to make some observations.

In the spirit of democracy, the newly-elected Speaker, who had been promised minutes before unqualified support by the ruling as well as the Opposition benches, permitted Mr Advani to make his observation.

Amid noisy interludes from the Treasury benches, Mr Advani said he did not have any doubt over the prerogative of the Prime Minister to choose his own team to govern the country, but his objection was only to the inclusion of at least six charge-sheeted ministers. He said the country had seen 15 Prime Ministers but none of them ever included ‘tainted ministers’ in their government.

Not only the Opposition parties were unhappy, even the parties supporting the UPA government did not like the induction of ‘tainted persons’ in the Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition said.

Yesterday over 200 NDA MPs had marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit a memorandum to President A P J Abdul Kalam against the inclusion of tainted persons in the Union Council of Ministers, he said.

It was an established convention that persons with criminal background should not be included in the Cabinet, Mr Advani said.

Mr Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Chief Whip of the Congress, was seen running from one side to the other, pacifying the members and reminded them of their responsibilities as members of the Treasury benches.

He had to physically exert pressure on a member who refused to resume his seat. The Speaker had a tough time trying to control both sides.

On several occasions, Mr Chatterjee reminded the agitated members that he had been on his feet and would not allow any violation of code of conduct.

Demonstrating his experience as a senior parliamentarian, coupled with firmness, Mr Chatterjee asked Mr Advani to open a new chapter of cooperation and coordination.