Raipur: BJP national vice-president and former chief minister Dr Raman Singh on Sunday filed nomination for the post of speaker of the newly elected Chhattisgarh Assembly.
Dr Singh who represents Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency was earlier reportedly promised the post by the Central BJP leadership after BJP stormed to power in Chhattisgarh in the recent Assembly elections by securing 54 out of 90 seats.
Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, two deputy chief ministers, Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and former speaker of the Assembly Charan Das Mahant, who has been made Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Chhattisgarh, were present on the occasion.
This indicated that Dr Singh enjoyed support of the Opposition Congress, besides the ruling BJP.
“I will ensure proper functioning of the Vidhan Sabha and that all issues for the welfare of Chhattisgarh are raised”, Dr Singh said after filing the papers.
Earlier in the day, former minister and senior BJP MLA Ram Vichar Netam was sworn in as pro-tem speaker of the house by Chhattisgarh governor Biswabhusan Harichandan.
The first session of the newly elected Chhattisgarh Assembly is likely to commence on December 19.
Meanwhile, the first session of the newly elected Madhya Pradesh Assembly is set to begin on Monday.
The four-day-session during which the newly elected MLAs will be sworn as members of the house is scheduled to end on December 21.
The governor is scheduled to address the house on December 20 and vote of thanks moton on the governor's speech will be moved in the house on December 21.
The newly elected Assembly will elect its speaker.
Former Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been declared as candidate for speaker’s post by BJP earlier.
BJP won a landslide victory in the recent Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh by securing 163 out of 230 seats.
