Ramprasad Paul elected Deputy Speaker of assembly

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Mar 28, 2023

Agartala, March 28 (FD) Former Minister for Prisons and Fire Service,  Ramprasad Paul, who was dropped from the cabinet in the new BJP-led government, was unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker of the state legislative assembly on the last day of the 13th assembly on Tuesday.

Paul is a senior BJP leader and is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS).

After being elected unanimously Paul thanked all members for supporting him and told the House, "I will render my duties with dignity and responsibility. I will see all members from equal view. I hope all discussions in this House will be constructive".

CM Dr. Manik Saha welcomed the Deputy Speaker on behalf of treasury benches and said all possible support will be given and hoped he would keep dignity of the Assembly.

Opposition leader Animesh Debbarma said he shares an old relation with Roy and recounted and promised all support in his conduct of business.

However, he said the opposition would raise voice if government turns away from interest of the people.

Opposition Congress MLA and party state president Birajit Sinha said though his party joined CPIM in proposing a Speaker candidate despite being short on figures, it didn't put up any Deputy Speaker candidate since it was informally decided with TIPRA Motha that the latter would put up its legislator as Deputy Speaker candidate from the opposition but failed to do so in a "surprising way".

Ramprasad Paul was seen hurling chairs and yelling at senior BJP leaders after Dr. Manik Saha replaced Biplab Kumar Deb in the surprise move last year. While CM Dr. Saha retained him in his cabinet surprising many who presumed Ramprasad would be axed from his post, Paul was found absent in the cabinet of the incumbent government after it was sworn in with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance earlier this month. FD JK