Three-time Congress MlA from Anandpur Sahib, Rana Kanwar Pal Singh was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly on Monday—the second day of the newly-constituted House.
After administering oath to all the members of the House as pro-tem Speaker, Rana’s name was proposed by the leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for the prestigious post of Speaker, which was seconded by the state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra.
As soon he was elected Speaker, Capt Amarinder, Mohindra, SAD’s deputy leader in Vidhan Sabha Ajit Singh Kohar and BJP’s Dinesh Singh Babbu went to congratulate him.
During the process of electing the Speaker, the MlAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its ally lok Insaf Party (lIP) started raising slogans and staged a walkout. They were demanding a debate on the Governors address, which was scheduled for Tuesday.
later, while congratulating the newly-elected Speaker, Capt Amarinder said that Rana is connected to the people at the grassroots level. “He always smiles...works with a calm mind. I have full faith that you will turn out to be a successful Speaker,” he said.
Kohar, while backing Rana, said that he hoped that the Speaker will “exercise neutrality” while adding that the former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal could not attend the session as he was unwell.
BJP’s Som Prakash said that the Speaker was a competent person and hoped that he would take the opposition in confidence during the House proceedings.
Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, congratulated the Speaker, saying that he was an experienced person and has contributed a lot for the welfare of the people of Punjab.
At the same time, he criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and lok Insaaf Party (lIP) members saying that by walking out of the Assembly during the election of Speaker, they “have betrayed the people who elected them”.
In his characteristic style, local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu described Rana as a “diamond” who would shine more after being embedded in Speaker’s chair.
Rana, the former president of Punjab Youth Congress, was elected from Anandpur Sahib for the third time.
After being elected as Speaker, 59-year-old Rana said: “As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serve the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches.”
Noting that MlAs are criticised often for their unparliamentary behaviour these days, Rana said that he “gentleness will make us ornamental to the legislature”.
He assured the members of upholding the sanctity and principles of the House and thanked Capt Amarinder, All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) chairperson and party vice-president for reposing faith in him.
“Amarinder is a charismatic leader for whom the party is not above the interest of the people of Punjab. It is a huge responsibility that has been given to me by the entire House,” he said.
A law graduate from Dehradoon University, Rana said that he has worked as a lawyer for 21 years in Rupnangar.