JD(U) asks AAP, Oppn to back its lone MLA for Speaker’s post

Congratulating Aam Aadmi Party for forming government in Delhi, JD(U) on Saturday asked the ruling party and the Opposition to build a consensus on its lone party MLA Shoaib Iqbal, the senior-most legislator in the House, for the post of Speaker in the state Assembly.

Mr. Iqbal has already pledged unconditional support to AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal, who was sworn-in as Chief Minister on Saturday.

“Being the most senior member in the Assembly, Mr. Iqbal is already Pro-tem Speaker. He has been Deputy Speaker in the past and is currently the most senior member in the House.

“The ruling party and the Opposition should build consensus on his name and make him Speaker,” JD(U) general secretary Javed Raza said.

Mr. Raza congratulated Mr. Kejriwal for becoming Delhi’s Chief Minister and said he hoped he would take pro-people measures.

JD(U) MP K C Tyagi said AAP coming to power in Delhi is “most unique experiment” in Indian politics since independence and is totally different from the traditional way of politics.

Mr. Iqbal has won from Matia Mahal assembly seat, his traditional constituency.