The Assembly on Monday paid tributes to Speaker G. Karthikeyan who passed away on Saturday. Leaders cutting across party lines recalled his commitment to democratic values that ensured the smooth functioning of the House even in testing times. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Karthikeyan’s untimely death had deprived the House of a benign and dignified presence. Recalling his role as Speaker, Mr. Chandy said the soft-spoken Karthikeyan had showed remarkable poise and impartiality in protecting the interests of both the Treasury and Opposition benches in the Assembly.
“He chose a consensus approach to sort out prickly issues, rather than enforcement of rules. His decision to withdraw the protection offered by the Watch and Ward for the Speaker showed his trust in the democratic traditions of the House and the legislators,” he said.
Mr. Chandy said Karthikeyan’s role in creating the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology revealed his vision for the development of the State. “His unflinching political loyalty and his commitment to values endeared him to his followers,” he said.
Role model
Terming Karthikeyan as a role model for Speakers, Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said his decision to do away with the Watch and Ward protection showed his belief in democratic values.
“While many former Speakers surrounded themselves with security personnel, he chose democratic means to exercise his role and uphold the dignity of the House. I respect him,” Mr. Achuthanandan said.
Reading out the obituary reference in a voice choking with emotion, Deputy Speaker N. Sakthan recalled the landmark reforms initiated by Karthikeyan in managing the proceedings of the House. “The decision to webcast the proceedings of the Assembly, permit the use of laptops and tablet computers inside the House and to set up the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training are examples,” he said.
