The speaker of the Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee today recalled the sweet and sour experiences during the last 5 years but maintained that there was nothing wrong in behaving like a “headmaster”, an attitude that often attracted the ire of the members.

He presided over the House that saw unprecedented lows, observed on the last day of the Lok Sabha that he was sometimes pained at various events in the Lok Sabha that took place during his tenure and had tried to “cleanse” the House of erring members and at the same time upholding the dignity of the institution.

Basically very strict with the members while conducting proceedings. He was however very jovial and flexible today. He cracked jokes and allowed members to raise issues despite not giving prior notices.

Presiding over the House proceedings for the last time, Somnath Chatterjee said that he had a “mixed feeling” and “quiet satisfaction” though he was pained that the frequent disruptions had “greatly eroded people’s faith in the efficacy of this great institution”.