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| CM undecided as ousted Ministers, advisor lobby | | Nomination of Speaker | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb 5: With the annual budget session of the bicameral legislature scheduled for February 28, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is awaiting the appointment of Speaker.
Though the annual budget session is commencing by the end of this moth, the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance is yet to take a final call on the nomination for the Constitutional post of Speaker of Assembly which has fallen vacant after the former Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone was inducted in the State Cabinet in the Jan 15 Cabinet reshuffle-cum-expansion.
Sources privy to the power corridors told Early Times today that ousted Ministers Abdul Gani Malik, Qamar Ali Akhoon, SS Salathia and Advisor to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul were the front runners for the pivotal post of Presiding Officer (Speaker) of the legislative Assembly. They said all of them are vociferously lobbying for the post.
Sources said though Mubarak Gul was initially tipped of for the Speaker's post but after the discontent shown by the NC leaders who were dropped from the Council of Ministers, it has become difficult for Chief Minister to take a final call. They said almost all of the aforementioned former Ministers have put their claim for this Constitutional post and as of now none of them is ready to give up his claim.
Sources further said that there is tremendous pressure from these ousted Ministers on Chief Minister and NC leadership with the supporters of Qamar Ali Akhoon from Kargil threatening to resign enmass from NC if he was not nominated as Speaker.
Meanwhile, after the ouster of RS Chib from the State Cabinet, Minister for Planning Ajay Sadotra has been nominated Leader of the Legislative Council. Though the Constitution provides that Chief Minister is the leader of both the Houses but in pursuance of Section 2 (g) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, CM has to nominate leader of the Upper House who essentially shall be a Minister and a Member of that House. In pursuance of the rules CM today wrote to the Chairman Legislative Council about the nomination of Sadotra who is also Member of Council as Leader of the Upper House.
Meanwhile, the heritage J&K Legislative complex which was partially damaged earlier last month has been repaired completely and it is now official that the budget session will be conducted in the same complex.
"Complex is now ready to host the session as the damaged portion of the complex has been fully restored and is being given finishing touch now," Secretary Assembly, Mohammad Ramzan told Early Times.
He said that the damaged portion which include the chambers of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister and the Media Gallery have been completely repaired and are given finishing touch now which will take just a couple of days more. |
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