Bhopal: The late Jawaharlal Nehru's picture was replaced by the late Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's during the opening session of the 16th Madhya Pradesh assembly on Monday, sparking uproar. The picture is displayed behind the Speaker's chair in the House.
One side of the Speaker's Chair still has the Mahatma Gandhi picture on it, but on the other side, Jawaharlal Nehru's photo was replaced, India Today reported.
Congress leaders protested the change and called for the return of Jawaharlal Nehru's picture. The party threatened to have Congress MLAs restore the image themselves if it is not returned to its original state.
First session after polls
Gopal Bhargava, the pro-tem speaker, opened the session by welcoming the newly elected members to the house and initiating the oath-taking ceremony.
Almost a week after Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government took power, the four-day winter session started.
The house was told by the pro-tem Speaker that Congress leader Umang Singhar had been chosen as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, which is equivalent to a cabinet position.
Narendra Singh Tomar, a former Union minister and senior leader, has been nominated by the BJP for the post of assembly speaker.