G Prasad Kumar unanimously elected Speaker of third Telangana Assembly

Revanth Reddy, his cabinet colleagues, BRS Working President Rama Rao, AIMIM MLAs and lone CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao were present when Prasad Kumar's nomination was submitted to the legislature secretary.

Hyderabad: Vikarabad MLA G Prasad Kumar was unanimously elected as Speaker of the 3rd Telangana Assembly with the support of all MLAs across parties. He is the first Dalit Speaker of the Telangana Assembly.Pro-Tem Speaker Akbaruddin Owaisi said only one nomination was filed for the post. Prasad Kumar’s candidature was proposed by 23 members, including those from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), he said in the House here on Thursday.

Before announcing the election of the new Speaker, the Pro-Tem Speaker administered the oath for Members, who could not attend the December 9 ceremony. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, BRS working president KT Rama Rao were among those who took oath on Thursday.

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Extending his wishes to the newly elected Speaker, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy thanked members from all the parties, including the BRS, AIMIM and CPI for the unanimous election of the Speaker. BJP members also extended their support indirectly for the election, he said, adding that he hoped that the ‘wonderful tradition’ continues in future also. Stating that the Speaker had commenced his political career as an MPTC member, then Mandal Praja Parishad member and then MLA, the Chief Minister said Prasad Kumar had also worked as a Handlooms Minister.

He hails from a joint family and is blessed with eight sisters. He was instrumental in getting a medical college to Vikarabad, besides expansion of the APPA – Vikarabad road via Manneguda crossroads, the Chief Minister said.Congratulating the Speaker, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said when Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu sought support of the BRS for unanimous election of the Speaker, BRS Chief K Chandrashekhar Rao had without second thoughts immediately agreed to the proposal. Rama Rao hoped that the new Speaker would continue the values set by his predecessors Madhusudhana Chary and Pocharam Srinivas Reddy in the Telangana Assembly.

“I wish all the Members are given sufficient opportunities to discuss people’s issues,” Rama Rao said. AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bin Balala, CPI MLA K Sambasiva Rao, and other Members from Congress and BRS also congratulated the Speaker.

Addressing the Members, the Speaker thanked all the parties for extending their support for his unanimous election. He said irrespective of the parties, all Members would be given ample opportunities to express their views and speak on people’s issues.

“I seek the cooperation of all the Members in the running the Assembly smoothly and in efficient manner,” Prasad Kumar said.The Assembly was adjourned to meet at 11.30 am on Friday for Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan’s address to all the Members, including those from the Legislative Council.

Earlier, after the Speaker’s election, the Chief Minister accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Batti Vikramarka Mallu and KT Rama Rao conducted him to the Speaker’s Chair. This was followed by bonhomie among the MLAs across the parties. Congress MLAs, including Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, G Vivek, N Padmavathi Reddy and others met the BRS working president and exchanged wishes.