The Speaker has written two letters to Dikshit reminding her about the urgency to fill up the posts of deputy speaker, party chief whip etc. Dikshit has been postponing the nominations even as the MLAs have started expressing their displeasure at the delay.

The correspondence exposes the Government's dilemma on the appointments to various posts and committees. Dikshit has been sitting over nomination of leaders for the crucial posts, wondering how to deal with the fallout of the exercise -- the wrath of the people who fail to land the jobs.Both letters say that there is a pressing need for appointing MLAs for house committees, as deputy speaker, chief whip and other functionaries in the House from Congress. They, like several MLAs, seek to know why these posts have not been filled up yet. The delay already has a number of expectant MLAs turning rebellious. But they have restrained from making public their anger because of the chance that when Dikshit does take a decision, she might have something for them.

Singh's first letter was sent to Dikshit on January 15, quoting the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly Bill. It said that the Government should, give the names of the Congress MLAs, deputy speaker and chief whip, among others. The letter also wanted to know who would take care of the legislative procedure in the Assembly on behalf of the Congress.

The letter, according to sources, was sent back to Prem Singh with a Post-it note from the Chief Minister's Office. It said Dikshit, as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party, would take care of the party's affairs in the Assembly, ``till the said appointments are made.'' Following this, the Assembly secretariat has been addressing all the legislative business to Dikshit.

Prem Singh did not stop. He sent another letter this week, saying almost the same things. Referring to the coming Budget session of the Assembly, the letter asks the Congress to give ``the names of the MLAs who would be on the house committees.'' The 15 house committees are, by procedure, announced by the chief whips of both the ruling party and the opposition, who goes through the long-winding process of selecting members, based on various political and hierarchical criterion, for the committees in consultation with the CM.

Among the 15 house committees are influential panels like the public accounts committee, estimates committee, government undertakings' committee, assurances committee and business advisory committee.