Mace Race: Tripura Opposition MLA Runs Away With Speaker’s Ceremonial Mace

In a bizarre incident, an Opposition Trinamool Congress MLA Sudip Roy Burman picked up the Speaker's ceremonial mace and ran away from the Tripura Assembly.

The MLA, who was part of the protesting opposition, made a dash for the mace and then hot-footed giving the marshals a slip.

The opposition wanted a discussion against Forest Minister Naresh Jamatia, who was embroiled in a molestation case. When Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath rejected it, the MLAs went into the well to intensify the protest. But, in a sudden fit, he climbed up the podium and scooted away with Speaker's ceremonial mace.

A marshal followed him and finally managed to retrieve the mace.

Quite interestingly, this is the third time that an opposition lawmaker in Tripura has run away with the symbolic silver mace in the middle of the session. The TMC MLA did not explain his act.

"This is contrary to parliamentary traditions, practice and procedure. He should not have done it," an upset Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath told media persons in his chamber.