343 take oath as members of 15th UP assembly

Lucknow, May 17(UNI) Altogether 343 newly elected MLAs today took oath of the Uttar Pradesh assembly, including leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

A panel of four presiding officers, who were given oath by Governor T V Rajeswar yesterday, administered oath to the members.

Panel member Pramod Tiwari started the ceremony by administering oath to pro tem speaker Shyamdeo Rai Chaudhury (BJP).

Mr Tiwari also administered oath to the Leader of the Opposition Mulayam Singh Yadav as a member of the 15th Assembly.

The ministers were the first to be administered oaths followed by women members.

Two days, today and tomorrow, have been earmarked to administer oath to the newly-elected members of the 15th Assembly. A total of 402 new MLAs would be administered oath.

The Assembly session would begin on May 21 with the address of the Governor. Tomorrow the new speaker will be elected and BSP's Sukhdeo Rajbhar is all set to be elected unopposed to the post.

UNI