BJP finds Speaker in Rishikesh MLA

DEHRADUN: BJP legislature party Wednesday nominated party MLA from Rishikesh, Premchand Agarwal, for the post of the Speaker of the fourth Uttarakhand assembly.

This came even as scores supporters of senior BJP leader Harbans Kapoor protested at the residence of Agarwal demanding that eight-time Dehradun Cantt legislator be named the assembly Speaker. They contended that Kapoor had the experience for the post as he had earlier held it from 2007 to 2012. Kapoor, however, was conspicuous by his absence.

Meanwhile, 16 sets of nomination papers were filed by 32 party MLAs as proposers and seconders. The nomination papers were submitted to assembly secretary Jagdish Chandra in the presence of all the BJP legislators. Agarwal’s nomination went unopposed as the opposition Congress has already stated that it would support BJP in its choice of the Speaker.

Congress is also short of numbers in the House to oppose BJP’s nomination .

“The new Speaker will be elected unopposed as the opposition has extended its support to us following our request. We thank the opposition for its gesture,” minister Prakash Pant said.

He said that Agarwal was the choice of the BJP central leadership and had full support of all party MLAs.

BJP, however, has not yet taken call on the deputy Speaker’s post and it is likely to be done at the end of the six-day assembly session beginning March 24, Pant said.

“I thank all the party MLAs and central leadership for considering me for the highest constitutional chair of the state legislature.

As assembly Speaker, I will ensure that the legislative work is done in best possible way and in accordance with the democratic principles without any prejudice or predisposition,” Agarwal said, after filing his nomination papers in the House.