Rajasthan Speaker Vasudev Devnani anguished as Opposition skips Assembly session opening
Synopsis
For the first time in Rajasthan Assembly history, Opposition members skipped the opening day of a session — including condolence references — sparking visible anguish from Speaker Vasudev Devnani. The trigger: a dispute over entry through Gate No. 6, which marshals had flagged as a security risk after unauthorised persons previously mingled with MLAs entering as a group.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani expressed anguish on 20 August over the Opposition's absence on the session's opening day.
This was reportedly the first time in Rajasthan Assembly history that Opposition members skipped condolence references on an opening day.
The boycott stemmed from a dispute over entry through Gate No.
6 ; protocol requires members to use Gate No.
6 restricted to individual foot-entry for security reasons.
Speaker Devnani urged the Opposition to participate in proceedings and the government to respond constructively to Opposition-raised issues.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid a courtesy call on the Speaker on the same day, discussing Rajasthan's development and democratic traditions.
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Thursday, 20 August expressed deep anguish after Opposition members stayed away from the House on the opening day of the session, marking what he described as a historic first for the Rajasthan Assembly. Devnani urged Opposition MLAs to participate in proceedings and raise public issues within the prescribed rules, assuring them of full respect within the House.
A Historic Absence
According to Speaker Devnani, this was the first time in the history of the Rajasthan Assembly that Opposition members were absent during condolence references on the opening day of a session. The Speaker emphasised that meaningful dialogue between the ruling party and the Opposition is fundamental to upholding democratic traditions and addressing the concerns of the people of Rajasthan.
The Gate No. 6 Dispute
Devnani explained that the Opposition had initially planned to assemble and enter the Assembly premises through Gate No. 6. He clarified that, under established protocol, members are required to enter through Gate No. 7. However, MLAs arriving on foot may enter individually through Gate No. 6. The Speaker noted that the restriction on group entry through Gate No. 6 was enforced purely on security grounds, after Assembly marshals reported that on an earlier occasion, unauthorised persons had mingled with a group entering through that gate.
Speaker's Appeal to Both Sides
Expressing regret over the boycott despite the arrangements in place, Devnani called on the government to take cognisance of issues raised by the Opposition and respond constructively. He stressed that the legislature's true significance lies in substantive debate between the ruling party and the Opposition on matters that directly affect citizens. Both sides, he said, carry an equal responsibility in maintaining parliamentary decorum and finding solutions to public problems.
CM Sharma Calls on Speaker
Separately, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid a courtesy call on Speaker Devnani at the Assembly on the same day. The two exchanged floral bouquets and held discussions on contemporary issues facing the state, including Rajasthan's development agenda, the strengthening of democratic traditions, and matters related to the broader interests of the state.
With the session now under way, all eyes will be on whether the Opposition returns to the House in the coming days and whether the entry-gate dispute is resolved to allow normal legislative business to proceed.
Point of View
Which are typically observed across party lines — signals a breakdown in basic legislative trust, not merely a procedural dispute over a gate. The Gate No. 6 episode looks less like a security enforcement decision and more like a flashpoint that both sides allowed to escalate. Speaker Devnani's public anguish is notable: Speakers rarely make such pointed appeals on record, suggesting the situation is more fraught than a routine adjournment. If the Opposition remains absent through the session, Rajasthan's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will face no legislative accountability — which, critics would argue, suits the treasury benches just fine, whatever the Speaker's stated regret.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Rajasthan Assembly Opposition boycott the session on 20 August?
The Opposition stayed away from the Rajasthan Assembly on the opening day of the session on 20 August reportedly over a dispute regarding entry through Gate No. 6. Speaker Vasudev Devnani clarified that protocol requires members to enter through Gate No. 7, with Gate No. 6 permitted only for individual foot-entry due to past security concerns.
What made this absence historically significant?
According to Speaker Devnani, this was the first time in the history of the Rajasthan Assembly that Opposition members were absent during condolence references on the opening day of a session — a moment typically observed by all sides regardless of political differences.
What did Speaker Vasudev Devnani say about the Opposition's absence?
Devnani expressed deep anguish and urged Opposition members to participate in proceedings and raise public issues within the rules. He assured the Opposition of full respect in the House and stressed that meaningful debate between the ruling party and Opposition is essential to democratic traditions.
Did Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma respond to the situation?
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid a courtesy call on Speaker Devnani at the Assembly on the same day. The two discussed Rajasthan's development, democratic traditions, and broader state interests, though no specific statement on the Opposition boycott was attributed to the Chief Minister.
What happens next in the Rajasthan Assembly session?
The session is now under way and it remains to be seen whether the Opposition returns to the House in the coming days. Speaker Devnani has called on both sides to resume dialogue, and the resolution of the gate-entry dispute may determine whether normal legislative business can proceed.
