Rana KP Singh elected Speaker amid protests by AAP MLAs

Chandigarh, March 27

Congress MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh was on Monday elected unopposed as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly amid a walkout by the members of main opposition Aam Aadmi Party and its ally Lok Insaaf Party.      

On the second day of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh proposed the name of Rana, Congress MLA from Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency, for the post of Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra seconded it.

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Amarinder said Rana is connected to people at grassroots level. "He always smiles...works with a calm mind. I have full faith that you will turn out to be a successful Speaker," the Chief Minister said.

As the process to elect Speaker started, members of the AAP and the LIP intervened, demanding a debate on the governor's address.

Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka said a discussion on governor's address should be held "as per the Constitution".

He was supported by LIP MLA Simrajeet Singh Bains.

Rana asked the AAP MLAs to go by the rules and give some time to the new government. Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the Congress was not denying a debate on the governor's address, but "let the government to start its work first".

At this, the AAP and LIP members raised slogans and trooped out of the Assembly.

On being elected as Speaker, Rana (59), a three-time legislator, said: "As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serving the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches."

Noting that MLAs are criticised often for their un- parliamentary behaviour these days, Rana said "gentleness will make us ornamental to the legislature."

He assured the members of upholding the sanctity and principles of the House and thanked Amarinder Singh, AICC chairperson (Sonia Gandhi) and party vice president (Rahul Gandhi) for reposing faith in him.

"Amarinder is a charismatic leader for whom the party is not above the interest of the people of Punjab. It is a huge responsibility that has been given to me by the entire House," he said. — PTI

What transpired in the House

*New seating arrangement in place in Vidhan Sabha                       

*Congress ministers sit seniority wise in first row of treasury benches

*Three rows for AAP and three rows for SAD-BJP members in opposition benches

*Lok Insaf Party members allowed to sit with AAP MLAs

*Bikram Majithia sits in the second row on the seats reserved for SAD-BJP MLAs                       

*AAP MLAs and Bains brothers object to not being allowed debate on Governor’s address.                       

*Speaker asks opposition to give time to govt to function                       

*Navjot Singh Sidhu defends govt, takes on Bains brothers                       

*Bains brothers raise slogans against the Speaker                       

*Capt Amarinder Singh proposes name of Rana KP Singh as Speaker                       

*Election held amid din by AAP MLAs                                             

*AAP members walk out of the House                       

*Phoolka says walkout for not giving time for opposition to speak in the Assembly                       

*SAD-BJP members sit silent in the House

*Sidhu makes sarcastic comments against AAP MLAs                       

*Capt Amarinder Singh, Ajit Singh Kohar, Brahm Mohindra and Dinesh Babbu congratulate Rana KP Singh for being elected Speaker                       

*AAP chief whip Sukhpal Khaira says the pre-poll ‘friendship’ between Akalis and Congress continues as Akalis did not object to denial of time to the opposition to speak

*Manpreet Badal says the level of debate in the House has gone down over the years

*AAP walks out of Assembly

*AAP accepts new office given to them in the Vidhan Sabha; HS Phoolka holds first meeting there