Seat allocation in LS: Member says 'we are like nomads'

New Delhi, Jul 22: The delay in allocation of seats in the newly-elected Lok Sabha came in for criticism today with a member saying the representatives of the people had become "nomadic tribes" in the absence of dedicated seats to them.

Pinaki Misra (BJD) raised the issue in the House before beginning to speak on demands for grants of the Ministry of Environment. He said it is surprising to see that a government, even after winning such a huge mandate, could not allocate seats to MPs.

"We are already half-way into the Budget session, but we are moving around like nomadic tribes," said Misra, who is second-time member of the Lok Sabha.

The allocation of seats to the members in the 16th Lok Sabha has got delayed because Speaker Sumitra Mahajan faces a tricky situation in view of the fact that AIADMK, Trinamool Congress and BJD are not keen about the idea of sitting next to Congress, according to Parliamentary sources.

Several rounds of meetings have been held to sort out the matter and the decision is expected soon, according to the sources.

Parliamentary observers say Congress has been the main rival of the BJD in Odisha while Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress sometimes acts in support of the government and sometimes sides with the opposition.

PTI