Veteran National Conference (NC) leader and seven-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Charar-e-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather, is expected to be elected as the first Speaker of the legislative assembly in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The assembly is set to convene for a historic five-day session starting Monday, the first since Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganization into a union territory over six years ago.
According to the provisional calendar issued by the Assembly Secretariat, the election for Speaker will be held during the session’s first sitting on Monday. Sources within the NC have indicated that the 80-year-old Rather, a seasoned political figure in the region, is almost certain to be nominated by the party for this key role.
A senior NC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the likely appointment, noting that, “Rather sahib is all set to be the Speaker of the legislative assembly, given that the treasury benches have the required numbers.”
This development comes as Rather, who has previously served as Speaker in the assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, remains a respected figure with extensive legislative experience. He held the position of Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2008 during the tenure of the PDP-Congress coalition government in the former state.
While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet to field a candidate for the Speaker’s post, it announced on Sunday that Narinder Singh Raina would be its nominee for the role of Deputy Speaker. It remains uncertain whether an informal understanding has been reached between the government and opposition on the key leadership roles in the assembly.
The upcoming session holds historic significance, marking the legislative assembly’s first meeting since early 2018. That last session took place prior to the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, which split the former state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Security measures have been heightened across the region to ensure a smooth and secure legislative session, given the sensitivities surrounding the assembly’s first meeting after such a long hiatus.
Following the election of the Speaker on Monday, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha is scheduled to address the House. The second day, November 5, will include obituary references, with discussions on the Motion of Thanks for the LG’s address scheduled for November 6 and 7. The session will conclude with a reply to the Motion of Thanks on November 8, according to an official spokesperson.
This five-day session is expected to provide critical insights into the policy directions and governance priorities for Jammu and Kashmir under the current leadership, with veteran political figures such as Abdul Rahim Rather potentially guiding the assembly’s proceedings in the newly designated union territory.
(Inputs from various reports)
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The Chenab Times News Desk
