Focus on selection of Speaker

BANGALORE: Former Speakers of the State Legislative Assembly on Saturday batted for bringing in reforms while selecting presiding officer for the Assembly.Airing their views at a round table conference on ‘Role of Speakers in Contemporary Indian Democracy’ organised by the Centre for Standards in Public Life (CSPL), former Assembly Speakers B G Banakar, D B Chandre Gowda, Krishna and Jagadish Shettar spoke at length about changes to be brought to the selection criteria of the Speaker of the State Legislative Aseembly.“A change has to be brought in the selection of Speakers after analysing the international methods. More discussion on this topic has to be taken up. Most of the Speakers are selected by  political parties.,” Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar said. He said Speaker should have impartial mindset without any political links.Former speaker Krishna stressed on the need to frame a judicial tribunal under the Election Commission vested with powers to bar politicians from hopping from one party to another.