The Hindu : New Delhi News : Shoaib Iqbal elected Deputy Speaker

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 24, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Shoaib Iqbal elected Deputy Speaker

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 23. Three-time Janata Dal (S) member Shoaib Iqbal was today unanimously elected Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. The entire Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party boycotted the election as well as the proceedings of the House for the entire day even as the ruling party legislators moved a privilege motion against some BJP members.

Mr. Iqbal's name was proposed by the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and seconded by the chief whip, Ramakant Goswami, who was missing when the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, called out his name.

However, Mr. Goswami recovered lost ground in time to second the name of Mr. Iqbal. The Nationalist Congress Party leader, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, also proposed the name of Mr. Iqbal, which was seconded by the Independent MLA from Najafgarh, Ranvir Singh Kharab.

The House passed the resolution unanimously in the absence of the opposition BJP who had put up their chief whip, Sahib Singh Chauhan, as the party's candidate for the post.

Mr. Iqbal, who represents the Matia Mahal Assembly constituency, is also the president of the Delhi unit of Janata Dal (S) since 1999 and has also held the post of the chief whip of Janata Dal from 1993-98. Soon after his election, Mr.Iqbal thanked all members for electing him.

He also thanked the Chief Minister and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for giving the post of the Deputy Speaker to an Opposition MLA, thereby setting a new precedent.

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