Namdhari elected Jharkhand Speaker

Namdhari elected Jharkhand Speaker
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Ranchi, Nov 22: Inder Singh Namdhari of the JD-U was today unanimously elected speaker of the new 60-member Jharkhand assembly, with joint opposition candidate JMM-S' Teklal Mahato withdrawing from the fray minutes before.

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

Pro Tem Speaker Visheswar Khan (CPI) formally announced the election of Namdhari, who was then escorted to the Speaker's chair by Chief Minister Babulal Marandi. The assembly is housed in HEC's Lenin Hall.

The Chief Minister congratulated Namdhari and thanked the opposition for playing a significant role in the unanimous election.

"But the most important role played in your election to the post was your own personality which helped a consensus emerge on the issue," Marandi told the Speaker.

All the members rose to give Namdhari a standing ovation.

Namdhari, who represents the Daltongunge assembly constituency, in his address to the members said, "development is the common goal towards which we have to work. We have to work towards an exploitation and extremism free Jharkhand state. I am overwhelmed by the manner in which the ruling NDA and the opposition have given me this seat of honour".