BHATTI ELECTED DEPUTY SPEAKER, ‘INDEBTED TO CM’
The House opened with legislators unanimously electing Congress MLA from Malout, Ajaib Singh Bhatti, a Dalit leader, as deputy speaker of the 15th Vidhan Sabha. Bhatti said his family and he were indebted to CM Amarinder Singh who recommended him for the coveted post.
Amarinder congratulated Bhatti for his elevation and said that Bhatti’s long administrative and political experience would further enhance the glory of the august chair.
He said that politics was in Bhatti’s blood, as he inherited it from his father late Arjan Singh, who contested assembly election from the erstwhile combined constituency Nihal Singh Wala in 1957.
Amarinder said he was confident that Bhatti would add to the prestige of the office of deputy speaker.
Bhatti, a third time MLA, has won the last three polls in a row, twice from Bhucho seat in 2007 and 2012, and Malout in 2017.
The chief minister mentioned that Bhatti’s career was quite diversified, as he started his professional journey as a teacher in rural areas of Bathinda besides working as a block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) for nearly a year.
He joined Punjab Civil Services (executive) in 1984 and served in various magisterial and civilian assignments in different parts of the state. Bhatti resigned as additional secretary, education, in 2007 to contest from Bhucho.