PDP-Congress nominee is new J

Srinagar, July 20 (UNI) Mr Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjoora) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was today elected as the new chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council.

Mr Lone, a joint candidate of the ruling Congress-PDP coalition, was pitted against Ms Sakina Itoo of the National Conference (NC).

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council has the strength of 36 members. However, the present strength of the Upper House is 31 as five seats were still vacant.

In the Upper House, the Congress has 15 members, the PDP 9, the NC 6 and the Panthers Party one.

Mr Lone was declared elected as the new Legislative Council chairman by a voice vote, defeating Ms Itoo after the NC members and Panthers Party chief Prof Bhim Singh had staged a walk-out from the Upper House on the human rights violations issue.

Earlier, acting chairman P Namgyal asked the opposition members to return and participate in the election. The House waited for three minutes for the NC members to return.

Senior members then escorted Mr Lone to the chair. The Upper House was later adjourned till August 20.

Talking to journalists after being elected as the Legislative Council chairman, Mr Lone said he would try his best to maintain dignity, sanctity and decorum of the House. ''I hope to discharge my duties and responsibilities properly. It was unfortunate that some members did not participate in the election,'' he added.

The post had fallen vacant after the retirement of Mr Abdul Rashid Dar from the Legislative Council on March 10 this year.

A law graduate, Mr Lone was elected to the Legislative Council in March 2003 after being defeated by NC leader Abdul Rahim Rather from Charar-e-Sharief constituency in Budgam district by a margin of about 1000 votes in the 2002 assembly polls.

Mr Lone had also unsuccessfully contested the 2004 Parliament elections from Srinagar-Badgam constituency against NC president Omar Abdullah.

UNI