Chakrapani assumes office as Chairman of revived LC

Hyderabad, Apr 3 (UNI) Senior Congress leader A Chakrapani assumed office as the Chairman of the revived Legislative Council (LC) today.

Mr Chakrapani was the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, when it was abolished in 1985.

When the Council met at 1000 hrs today, the protem Speaker Puvvada Nageswara Rao declared Mr Chakrapani as elected unanimously.

He said nine sets of nominations -- all proposing Mr Chakrapani's name had been filed.

Representatives of all parties, including the TDP, which abolished the Upper House and declared that it would once again abolish it if returned to power, escorted the Chairman to the Podium.

Mr Chakrapani, a law graduate, started his political career as a student leader.

He had led several movements for the uplift of the SCs, STs, BCs, Minorities and women. He wrote several books, including one on the need for an Upper House, which was released by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. His book on AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was translated into several Indian languages. Mr Chakrapani also edited Andhra Janata newspaper.

Mr Chakrapani, known to be a non-controversial person, has never been involved in any scam or scandal though he was the Vice-President of the Pradesh Congress Committee and was effectively running the party. He left his lucrative legal practice and worked for strengthening the Congress when it was out of power.

UNI