Telangana BJP leaders protest Akbaruddin Owaisi's appointment as pro-tem speaker; Boycott oath ceremony

Telangana BJP Chief and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed strong objection to the appointment of Akbaruddin Owaisi, a member of AIMIM, as the pro-tem Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly. Reddy claimed that this decision was an "insult to the senior MLAs" and contrary to the established tradition of appointing senior leaders to the pro-tem Speaker role.

Despite his objections, Owaisi went ahead and took the oath as pro-tem Speaker earlier at the Raj Bhawan.Reddy, addressing a press conference, stated that the BJP, which won eight seats and secured 14% vote share in the state, would not accept Owaisi's appointment and demanded that the election of the assembly Speaker should not proceed with him as the pro-tem Speaker.

In response to the BJP's objections, Telangana Congress spokesperson Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy defended Owaisi's appointment, emphasizing that the pro-tem Speaker role is a constitutional matter, and the selection of a senior MLA is a customary practice. He dismissed claims of an alliance with AIMIM and urged against the polarization of communities for political survival.

Meanwhile, the ceremony proceeded with the oath administered by Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, in the presence of the newly elected Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The BJP's decision to boycott the event marked a contentious start to the assembly proceedings.