The Hindu : New Delhi News : Short time to fill Assembly vacancies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Short time to fill Assembly vacancies

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 13. With the election of the Delhi Assembly Speaker, Ajay Maken, and the Deputy Speaker, Krishna Tirath, to Lok Sabha now, the Congress is faced with the task of filling up these two posts in a short period as the Assembly is scheduled to meet next month for its budget session.

While Mr. Maken has been elected to the Lok Sabha from New Delhi, Ms. Tirath has been elected from the Karol Bagh (SC) constituency. Not only would this necessitate a by-election for the Rajouri Garden and Baljeet Nagar Assembly seats but also throw up a challenge to the Congress leadership to ensure a smooth election to these two posts. It is understood that a large number of aspirants were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Lok Sabha results to make their move. The political activity in this regard is expected to hot up after the installation of a new Government at the Centre.

It is learnt that the Congress could offer the post of the Deputy Speaker to one of the friendly opposition parties. The name of the three-time Janata Dal (S) MLA, Shoaib Iqbal, is being mentioned in this regard. There is talk that Mr. Iqbal had stuck a deal with the Congress leadership that he would not contest the Lok Sabha polls from Chandni Chowk in return for being made the Deputy Speaker. Although the Congress has refused to say anything on the issue, Mr. Iqbal's presence at the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit's residence today was a pointer to the budding relationship between the two.

As for the post of the Speaker, a number of claimants are going to crop up in the next few days. It is learnt that the names of DPCC president, Chaudhary Prem Singh, and the former DPCC president, Subhash Chopra, are being mentioned in this regard. However, the party could prop up somebody new as Mr. Maken had set the record of being the youngest Speaker in office. It is understood that the name of the Finance Minister, A.K. Walia is once again in circulation and could well make it to the post. This could possibly trigger off a Cabinet reshuffle in order fill up any vacancy that arises out of this exercise.

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