Rare solidarity on display, Aggarwal elected Speaker

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 23

Three-time BJP legislator from Rishikesh Prem Chand Aggarwal was elected unopposed the fourth Speaker of the fourth Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly here on Thursday. Pro tem Speaker Harbans Kapoor made the formal announcement of the election of 56-year-old Aggarwal to the post of Speaker in the Vidhan Sabha.

After the announcement, former Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal and members of the treasury and opposition benches escorted Aggarwal to the Speaker’s chair.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant lauded the Opposition for supporting the election of Aggarwal. “I am sure Aggarwal’s unopposed election will strengthen the traditions of the House. It is traditions along with the conduct of the members that strengthen the functioning of the House,” he said.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat recalled his long association with Aggarwal. “His late father Mangey Ram Aggarwal was among the stalwarts of the RSS in Dehradun who laid the foundation of selfless service. Prem Chand too started his career with the ABVP. He is a keen volleyball player,” said Rawat.

The Chief Minister pointed to the presence of four former Speakers in the House. “I am sure former Speakers Yashpal Arya, Prakash Pant, Harbans Kapoor and Govind Singh Kunjwal will continue to show you the way,” he said.

Senior Congress leader Indira Hirdayesh emphasised the need to ensure a right balance in the House. She hoped that the Speaker would do justice to the opposition members. “I am confident that you will not be swayed by the overwhelming numbers in the treasury benches and will ensure that justice prevails. We may be numerically small but we are big enough to form a 11-member cricket team,” she said.

Independent MLA from Dhanolti Preetam Panwar also cautioned the Speaker and the treasury benches not to take the Opposition lightly. “The Opposition comprising 11 Congress MLAs and two Independent candidates will not take things lightly and will hold sway over the 57 BJP legislators,” he said.

Significantly, now Cabinet minister from the BJP Harak Singh Rawat took the opportunity to emphasise the power of the Speaker. “We came face to face with the supreme power of the Speaker when with one stroke his signature our membership was cancelled. We are still fighting the case in court,” he said.

On the other hand, BJP legislator Munna Singh Chauhan spoke about the Speaker’s role in the House. “He will have to be all ears and speak less,” he said

Meanwhile, only three Congress MLAs, namely Govind Singh Kunjwal, Rajkumar and Indira Hirdayesh, attending the House.