Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 30 2010:
MLA Th Lokeswar of Congress has been elected as Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly today by voice vote.
BJP Manipur Pradesh, having no member in the House, strongly criticised the election of a member from the ruling bench lamenting that ruling SPF government has taken the advantage of weakness of the opposition in the House.
Lokeswar was the only candidate who filed nomination papers for the post on the last day yesterday.
The post of deputy speaker has been lying vacant for more than ten months following the resignation of Shyam Kumar of Manipur People's Party (MPP).
After the uncontested election of Lokeswar, he was escorted to the chair of deputy speaker by Chief Minister O Ibobi and opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Expressing happiness to the election Lokeswar for the post, Chief Minister said asserted that as one of the young members of the House, he will discharge his duty sincerely and help in strengthening the democratic institute.
O Ibobi further expressed confident that he will give ruling while conducting the House unbiased manner.
Lokeswar while expressing thankful on electing him for the post of deputy unopposed assured that he will protect the dignity of the House.
Meanwhile, BJP Manipur State Unit, not having a single member in the state Assembly, termed the election of a member from the ruling Congress as saddest day in the history of Parliament.
General secretary, Th Samo of the party said that traditionally the post of deputy speaker is given to the opposition.
The tradition has been broken in the state.
The ruling SPF government has taken the post taking advantage of the weakness of the opposition.
No opposition in the state Assembly, he lamented adding that opposition are like keeping into cage asking why the post is being offered to a member of the ruling party.
Opposition should take an active role in successful running of a democratic government.