Punjab assembly Speaker opts out of electoral fray

Hoshiarpur, Jan 8 (UNI) Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Kewal Krishan has decided not to enter the electoral fray for the February 13 polls.

Dr Krishan has not applied for the Congress ticket from his traditional assembly constituency, Mukerian in this district.

Congress sources told UNI today that the Speaker in a letter to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has cited his age, as the prime factor for his opting out of the contest. Dr Krishan, now 85 years of age, won from Mukerian on a number of occasions starting from the early 1970s.

Mr Rajneesh Babbi and Mr Swarn Kumar, son and brother of the Speaker, respectively are among the 14 aspirants for the Congress ticket from Mukerian.

Dr Krishan became the Speaker of the state assembly for the first time when Giani Zail Singh was the Chief Minister of Punjab.

He also held the Finance portfolio in the governments headed by the late Darbara Singh and the late Beant Singh.

UNI