JD(U)'s Namdhari is first Speaker of Jharkhand

JD(U)'s Namdhari is first Speaker of Jharkhand
ENS & PTI

RANCHI, NOV 22: The Babulal Marandi-led NDA government in Jharkhand today crossed its first hurdle ahead of the confidence vote when its candidate, Inder Singh Namdhari, was unanimously elected Speaker of the 82-member state Assembly.

JMM's Teklal Mahato, the common Opposition candidate, withdrew from the fray paving the way for the unopposed choice of JD(U) MLA Namdhari, as Speaker.

The Chief Minister thanked the Opposition for playing a significant role in his unanimous election.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister (Samata) Ramchandra Kesri proposed Namdhari's name, which was seconded by Baccha Singh (also Samata).

Pro-tem Speaker Visheswar Khan (CPI) formally announced the election of Namdhari, who was then escorted to the Speaker's chair by the Chief Minister.

JMM(S) Legislature Party leader Stephen Marandi justified the withdrawal of Mahato's candidature by saying it would set a healthy precedent in the newly-created state Assembly.

Namdhari said he would ensure that dignity of the Speaker's office is maintained and sought the cooperation of all members. ``There were moments in the Bihar Assembly which were shameful for a democracy and we have to see to it that those unruly scenes are not repeated in this House,'' he said.

A Bachelor Of Engineer from the Bihar Institute Of Engineering (Sindri), Namdhari, who was born in the Namdhari Sikh family in Nausera village in Pakistan on September 10, 1942, was brought up in Daltonganj (Palamau). , He joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh in 1961. In 1990, he quit the BJP to join the Janata Dal. Subsequently, he became a Minister in the Laloo Yadav government till 1995, when he disassociated himself from Laloo to join the JD(U).