Former Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh was elected Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday.Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Bukhari moved the motion in the Assembly seeking his election to the post, while Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta seconded the motion.Dr Nirmal Singh, MLA from Billawar constituency, was elected with a voice vote. The opposition had nominated Legislator, Usman Majeed as their candidate for the post of Speaker, whose name was proposed by MLA Abdul Majid Bhat (Larmi).After the election, Dr Singh was taken to the Speaker's chair by Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Basharat Bukhari, Minister for Urban Development, Sat Pal Sharma, Deputy Speaker, Nazir Gurezi, Legislators, Mian Altaf, My Tarigami, Er Abdul Rashid among other members.Addressing the House, Dr Singh urged all the members to cooperate with him in conducting the house in an impartial manner. He said that Jammu and Kashmir full of diversities and at the same time full of challenges as well.“This House has a greater role to address the diversities and challenges of the State,” he said.“I assure you that I will rise up to the expectations of the members of the house and we will work in close coordination,” he added.Dr Singh complimented the role of the former Speaker and current Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta for his unbiased role in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti felicitated Dr Singh on being elected Speaker of the House.
Meanwhile speaking on the occasion, Minister for Urban Development, Sat Pal Sharma lauded the role of Dr Singh as Deputy Chief Minister. He hoped that Dr Singh would play his role as Speaker with utmost dedication and commitment.Deputy Speaker, Nazir Gurezi extended his best wishes to the new speaker, saying that he is hopeful that Dr Singh would come up to the expectations of representatives of the assembly and would run the affairs of the assembly smoothly.Gurezi also applauded the contribution of former speaker Kavinder Gupta and said that former speaker also run affairs of the assembly smoothly and his contribution would always be remembered.MLA Kangan Mian Altaf Ahmad hoped that Dr Singh would come up to the expectations of the opposition parties. He assured that his party will extend full support to the speaker in running the house smoothly.Extending congratulations to new Speaker, Legislator, Rajesh Gupta said that he is hopeful that Dr Singh would perform the new assignment with the same enthusiasm as he performed as deputy Chief Minister of the state.Legislator, MY Yousuf Tarigami, on the occasion said that Dr Singh has a great responsibility to run the assembly smoothly and he is hopeful that he would run the assembly as per rules and regulations. He said that both the ruling and opposition parties would extend his support to speaker maintain the sanctity of the assembly.Legislator, Engineer Abdul Rashid while congratulating the newly appointed Speaker, Dr Nirmal Singh said that the responsibilities have doubled for Dr Singh with the new assignment. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has a special privilege in the county and the members and the Speaker should uphold the sanctity of the House.