Jawaharlal Nehru's photo removed in MP assembly; sparks controversy

The late Jawaharlal Nehru's portrait was replaced with the late Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's, causing controversy at the opening of the first session of the 16th Madhya Pradesh assembly on Monday. The picture is displayed in the House behind the Speaker's chair

One side of the Speaker's Chair still has the Mahatma Gandhi photograph on it, but the other side now has Jawaharlal Nehru's picture replaced.

Congressmen protested the alteration and called for the return of Jawaharlal Nehru's portrait. The party threatened to have Congress MLAs restore the image personally if it is not returned to its former condition.

Gopal Bhargava, the pro-tem speaker, opened the session by welcoming the newly elected members to the house and initiating the oath-taking procedure.

Almost a week after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government entered power, the four-day winter session got underway.

Narendra Singh Tomar, a senior leader and former Union minister, has been nominated by the BJP to be the assembly speaker.

On Monday, the Assembly also saw the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected MLAs.

Chief minister Mohan Yadav, leader of Opposition in the state assembly Umang Singhar and deputy chief ministers Rajendra Shukla and Jagdish Deveda took oath. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took oath in the fifth position.

BJP MLA Narendra Singh Tomar filed nomination for the post of assembly Speaker. He will be elected unopposed. The speaker of the Assembly will be elected on December 2. 

Chief minister Mohan Yadav said, “Our double engine is continuously implementing the public welfare and development schemes launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively.

Former CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan told the media, “There has been a generation change. Mohan Yadav is the chief Minister and Umang Singhar is the Leader of Opposition. Generation change is a natural process. This is visible on both sides. I have full confidence that under the leadership of chief minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, the state will reach new heights of progress and development.”

Chouhan will meet BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi on Tuesday. “I will attend a meeting Delhi on Tuesday as the national president JP Nadda had called me up,” he said.