Harbans Kapoor unanimously elected Uttarakhand Speaker

Dehradun, Mar 12 (UNI) Harbans Kapoor, senior most Legislator of the BJP in Uttarakhand, was unanimously elected Speaker of the second elected state legislative assembly here today.

He was the only candidate to file nomination for the post.

Mr Kapoor was escorted to the Speaker's seat in Assembly House by leader of BJP Legislative Party and Chief Minister B C Khanduri and former Speaker and Congress MLA from Mukteshwar Yashpal Arya.

Former opposition leader and BJP MLA Matbar Singh Kandari announced to the House that Mr Kapoor had been unanimously elected Speaker.

Talking to newspersons later, Mr Kapoor, who was acting as Protem Speaker, expressed his gratitude towards all the members of the Assembly for electing him as Speaker unanimously. Mr Kapoor, who had won Assembly election for the sixth time, assured he would do his best to carry out the duties of the Speaker in accordance with the norms of the House.

Mr Kapoor was elected from Dera Khas constituerncy.

His first political venture started in 1985 when he contested from Dehradun but lost to Congress candidate. In 1985 for the first time he was elected as only BJP MLA from Dehradun. At present the member of State executive Committee Mr Kapoor scored an electoral victory in 1989 and continued his victory spree in 1991,1993 and 1996 in Uttar Pradesh. He also maintained his victory in the first election of new state in 2002 after the inception.

Mr Kapoor who had earlier served as State Minister for Rural Development in 1991 and Labour and Employment was conferred with the responsibility of Vice President of 20 Point Programme Inplementation Committee in the interim BJP government of Uttarakhand (then Uttaranchal) in 2001.

Born on January seven 1946 at Bannu, he is an Advocate (Income tax and Sales tax) by profession.

Mr Kapoor who was imprisoned for 14 days at Unnao Jail during the struggle for separate statehood had also earlier passed 21 days in Pauri jail during Ramjanmabhoomi agitation. He is an ardent social worker.

UNI