U’khand: Rawat loyalist is speaker

Amid anxious moments Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna cleared first trail of strength on Monday after Govind Singh Kunjwal was elected speaker of Uttarakhand assembly in a straight fight against Bhartiya Janta Party’s (BJP) candidate Harbans Kapoor. HT reports.

Amid anxious moments Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna cleared first trail of strength on Monday after Govind Singh Kunjwal was elected speaker of Uttarakhand assembly in a straight fight against Bhartiya Janta Party’s (BJP) candidate Harbans Kapoor.

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This is the first time in state’s history when voting was held for speaker’s post. In the house of 70 members, Kunjwal received 39 votes while Kapoor, a former speaker got 31 votes. Smooth sailing of Kunjwal, a senior legislator and close confidant of Harish Rawat union minister of state for parliamentary affairs, came as a respite for the government.

“This (speaker’s election) is a step forward towards giving stable government” said relieved Bahuguna.

“I assure that I will maintain dignity of the house” said Kunjwal who was escorted to the speaker’s chair by CM Bahuguna and cabinet colleagues.

Earlier in the morning pro-tem speaker SM Singhal twice adjourned house due to pandemonium created by BJP on two issues. BJP questioned government’s decision to appoint RV Gardner as Anglo Indian MLA even as government has not cleared vote of confidence. Party also smelled something fishy on the decision to stop scribes from witnessing proceedings.

Pro-tem speaker did not participated in the voting while nominated Anglo Indian MLA took part in the voting. “It’s good that voting has cleared all decks, it has also proved that party MLA’s and 7 non Congress MLA’s extending support to coalition government are en-block with the Bahuguna” said Indra Hridyesh, parliamentary affairs minister while taking with HT.

Assembly session is beginning from Tuesday and CM will prove majority on the floor of the house on Thursday.