This is the season of political defections; and it is going to last much longer than expected. Many MPs, former MPs and party veterans are singing a different tune, alleging that Akhilesh is arrogant, inaccessible and operates through a coterie. The chairmanThe newly-elected Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, appears to be in a race for making it to the record books. Birla’s enthusiasm, however, is not going down well with many ruling party MPs. “I am the leader of the Opposition.” Even as the gaffe left the House in splits, he corrected himself.

Source: The Telegraph July 21, 2019 09:56 UTC