Former Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Haryana Assembly, a post he will hold for the third time.

The 74-year-old’s name was proposed by Congress MLA from Kaithal, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and seconded by members belonging to other parties.

Soon after Chatha’s election, six members of the Opposition Haryana Janhit Congress (BL), led by Kuldeep Bishnoi, walked out of the House.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala welcomed Chatha, a four-time MLA. He was re-elected from Pehowa in Kurukshetra district in the recent elections.

Congratulating the Speaker, Chautala said he hoped the newly elected Speaker would maintain the dignity of the House unlike his predecessor.

Hooda hit back, saying, “I agree with you (Chautala) that the person occupying the Chair during your rule (the INLD tenure) did not uphold the dignity of the House.”

Chatha finally rested the matter by saying both sides have an equal role to play in maintaining a cordial atmosphere in the House.

He also assured that he would run the House with the consent of members and asked for help from both the treasury and Opposition benches. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker’s election, which was scheduled for today, has been postponed.