BJP leader Prem Kumar was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Bihar assembly on Tuesday.
This is the first time since 2015 that the Speaker has been elected unanimously. Prem Kumar had filed his nomination on Monday, while there was none from the Opposition.
Having recently won the Gayaji seat for a record ninth term, he was declared the 18th Speaker of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha after being elected following a voice vote.
Pro-tem Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav said that the four proposals received for the Speaker’s post had all been for Prem Kumar, adding that he took up the first proposal by deputy chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, which was seconded by the state’s water resources minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
The newely-elected Speaker was then escorted to the Chair as per tradition by Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, prompting chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” from the treasury benches.
Thanking all the members for his unanimous election, Prem Kumar promised equal importance to both the Treasury and Opposition benches, saying the House should be a place for meaningful discussions that contribute to Bihar’s development.
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“The 18th Vidhan Sabha coincides with the period when Bihar enters an important phase of development. The huge mandate given by the people has also brought with it big responsibility. I hope all the members would contribute to Bihar’s development and on my part, I will ensure that all the members get respect and opportunity. The beauty of democracy is that people with diverse thinking sit across the table for a common cause,” he added.
The election for the post of deputy Speaker will be held on December 4 and the nomination filing will take place till Wednesday, he informed.
Prem Kumar, 70, has won from Gayaji since 1990, and served both as a minister and the leader of Opposition.
Nitish Kumar expressed happiness for a “vastly experienced” Prem Kumar to have been unanimously elected as Speaker. “I request to all the members to cooperate with him in the smooth conduct of House,” he added.
Deputy chief ministers, Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, also said that the “simplicity and rich experience” of Prem Kumar would immensely help the House.
Tejashwi said it was significant that Prem Kumar came from Gayaji, the land of Vishnu and Buddh, and hoped that he would take “both sides along” in the House. “I am confident that you will take both sides along, as the Opposition is also part of the government and it has its defined role of showing the mirror. We all have the same responsibility here and we will keep raising the issues of the people to make unemployment, migration and poverty-free Bihar. There is no personal enmity, only Bihar’s interest,” he said.
Parliamentary affairs minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha, recalling his own unanimous election in 2015 as Speaker, said, “It is a special day for me also. Your name is Prem and I am confident you will live up to your name to shower love on all members in equal measure.”
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