2 weeks ago
Jagdambika Pal sets record with twice-expunged remarks from the Chair
Jagdambika Pal is a lawmaker in India's big Parliament building, called the Lok Sabha.
Sometimes he is put in charge of running the House and keeping order.
While he was in charge, he said some things to other lawmakers that the main Speaker, Om Birla, did not like.
The Speaker decided to erase those words from the official record, as if they were never said.
This happened two times during the same session of Parliament.
That had never happened before to someone in Pal's job.
Pal is also famous for a very short job as chief minister.
He was made chief minister of a big Indian state called Uttar Pradesh, but the next day a court gave the job back to the old chief minister.
So Pal was chief minister for only about one day.
People in Uttar Pradesh call him 'one-day CM'.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expunged remarks made by presiding officer Jagdambika Pal for the second time during the Monsoon Session, a record for any presiding officer, according to former Secretary General P.D.T. Achary.
The latest expunction covered Pal's remarks directed at Samajwadi Party MP Chotelal of Robertsganj while he asked opposition MPs to return to their seats after the House resumed at 2 PM.
On 5 August, Birla expunged Pal's comments about SP MP Ruchi Vira and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal ahead of the passage of the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026.
Pal was Uttar Pradesh chief minister for about 31 hours in February 1998 after Governor Romesh Bhandari dismissed Kalyan Singh's government; the Allahabad High Court restored Kalyan Singh the next day.
A Supreme Court-ordered floor test ended with Kalyan Singh securing 225 votes against Pal's 196; Pal later switched from Congress to BJP and has won Domariyaganj in 2014, 2019 and 2024.
- Who
- Jagdambika Pal, BJP MP from Domariyaganj who served as presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, and Speaker Om Birla, who expunged his remarks.
- What
- Pal's remarks from the Chair were expunged from the official record twice during the Monsoon Session, an apparent first for a presiding officer; the article also recounts his 31-hour tenure as Uttar Pradesh chief minister.
- Where
- Lok Sabha, New Delhi; Uttar Pradesh; Allahabad High Court.
- When
- The latest expunction happened on Wednesday, and the earlier one on 5 August during the Monsoon Session; Pal served as chief minister on 21-22 February 1998.
- Why
- Pal's remarks about opposition MPs disrupting proceedings were expunged to remove them from the official record; his 1998 CM appointment followed Governor Romesh Bhandari dismissing Kalyan Singh's government after Mayawati withdrew BSP support.
Critics
Supporters
Remarks expunged from the Chair
Critics
Former Lok Sabha Secretary General P.D.T. Achary said a presiding officer should be careful while conducting proceedings and that having remarks expunged twice does not set a good example.
Supporters
Pal was trying to restore order in the House after it resumed at 2 PM and was asking opposition MPs who were disrupting the proceedings to return to their seats.
1998 change of government in Uttar Pradesh
Critics
Mayawati withdrew support to the BJP government and urged Governor Romesh Bhandari to invite Pal, claiming Kalyan Singh had lost his majority.
Supporters
The BJP challenged the Governor's decision; the Allahabad High Court ordered restoration of Kalyan Singh's government, and he won the floor test 225-196.
Key facts
- MP and constituency
- Domariyaganj, Uttar Pradesh (BJP)
- Remarks expunged
- Twice during the Monsoon Session 2026
- First expunction
- 5 August, ahead of Bankers' Books Evidence Bill passage
- Latest expunction
- Wednesday, remarks aimed at SP MP Chotelal
- UP CM tenure
- About 31 hours, sworn in on 21 February 1998
- Appointed by
- Governor Romesh Bhandari, after Kalyan Singh's dismissal
- Floor test result
- Kalyan Singh 225 votes, Pal 196 votes
- Lok Sabha membership
- 18th Lok Sabha; won Domariyaganj in 2014, 2019 and 2024
Quotes
Senior Congress Leader
Unnamed senior Congress leader
“"This is the first time that remarks made by a presiding officer have been expunged twice. This is quite surprising. A presiding officer should be careful while conducting Lok Sabha proceedings. This does not set a good example."”
theprint.in
“"Pal was in Rahul Gandhi’s good books until 2014. He then sensed the mood on the ground and switched to the BJP."”
theprint.in
Sources
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