Biman Bandopadhyay elected WB Speaker

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress first timer Biman Bandopadhyay was today elected unopposed Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.

Leader of the House Partha Chatterjee proposed his name which was supported by the Chief Whip of Trinamool Congress Legislature Party Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.

The motion to elect 63-year-old Bandopadhyay as the Speaker was adopted by voice vote.

Chatterjee, Leader of the Opposition Suryakanta Mishra and Left Front Chief Whip Biswanath Karak then escorted the new Speaker to his chair.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated Bandhopadhyay, elected for the first time to the Assembly from Baruipur (West) constituency, and hoped that he would give opportunity and importance to Opposition parties in the new House.

The chief minister said the new Assembly would uphold democracy.

Banerjee said she missed CPI-M MLA Mostafa Bin Kasem, who allegedly committed suicide yesterday by jumping from the fourth floor of the MLA Hostel here.

The Speaker thanked members for electing him and said it would be his endeavour to conduct the House impartially maintaining its rich tradition.

The election for Deputy Speaker will be held on June 27. Trinamool Congress has 184 members in the 294-member House. Its ally Congress has 42 members.