Bhandari, Shahi, Thapa elected speakers in provinces 1, 6 and 7
Biratnagar/Dhangadi, February 12
Leaders Pradeep Kumar Bhandari, Raj Bahadur Shahi and Arjun Bahadur Thapa were elected speakers unanimously in provinces 1, 6 and 7 respectively today.
The senior-most member of Province 1 Om Prakash Sarawagi declared at the second meeting that Bhandari was elected to the post unopposed. Province governor Govinda Bahadur Tumbahang administered the oath of office and secrecy to Bhandari today itself. A Provincial Assembly meeting was held for a minute. Speaker Bhandari chaired the meeting, which decided to make public the schedule of the election of deputy speaker.
Earlier in the meeting, PA member Tulsi Prasad Neupane had proposed Bhandari and said that Pradeep Kumar Bhandari should be elected to the post of speaker as he was the only candidate vying for the post. Another PA member Laxman Tiwari seconded the proposal.
Similarly, Raj Bahadur Shahi was elected speaker of Province 6 unopposed in the second meeting of the PA today. Governor Durgakeshar Khanal administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shahi today afternoon. Shahi was elected from Dailekh Constituency 2-B on the CPN-UML ticket.
Though Chandra Shahi of Mugu had also claimed the post earlier, he stepped down and only Shahi’s candidacy was received. Another meeting scheduled for February 17 will elect the deputy speaker.
CPN-UML leader Arjun Bahadur Thapa was elected speaker in Province 7 unanimously today.
A Provincial Assembly meeting elected Thapa to the post unopposed. Chairperson of the meeting, senior-most PA member Dibyashwori Shah informed all the members that there was single candidacy for the post. Dirgha Bahadur Soradi had proposed Thapa’s name and CPN-MC Lawmaker Trilochan Bhatta supported him. The assembly of Province 7 has scheduled the election of deputy speaker at 1:00pm for February 18.
Governor Mohan Raj Malla administered the oath of office and secrecy today. All the lawmakers of Province 7, chiefs of security agencies, staffers and leaders of various political parties were also present at the function.
