Halim elected Bengal Speaker for sixth time

Kolkata, June 12 (UNI) Mr Hashim Abdul Halim was unanimously elected Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly for sixth consecutive term as the newly constituted House met for the first time today.

Neither the Trinamool Congress nor the Congress fielded any candidate for the prestigious post making his passage to the coveted Chair smooth.

Protem Speaker Gyan Singh Sohanpal announced the name of Mr Halim as Speaker of the 14th state Assembly.

The Trinamool Congress boycotted the election alleging that the ruling Left Front was deliberately denying the party the status of the main opposition.

Mr Halim, who was elected to the House as a CPI(M) member, first donned the Speaker's mantle in 1982 to retain the office for 24 years.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Congress Legislature Party Leader Manas Bhuniya, PWD Minister Kshiti Goswami and a number of other members congratulated Mr Halim on being elected.

Observing that opposition had a big role to play in Parliamentary democracy, Mr Bhattacharjee said their constructive criticism helped the Government perform better.

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