Bihar assembly adjourns after newly elected member's death

Patna, Nov 30: The Bihar assembly was adjourned on Monday, the first day of its maiden session after the polls, following the death of a newly elected member, Basant Kumar, and his fellow legislators passing a condolence resolution.

Protem Speaker Sadanand Singh said that a decision was taken to adjourn the house till 10 a.m. on Tuesday after condolences were paid to Basant Kumar.

He also welcomed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, the council of ministers and newly elected legislators to the house, which was convened for a nine-day winter session.

Basant Kumar, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party legislator elected from the Harlekhi assembly constituency, died in early hours of Monday ahead of being administered the oath of legislator by the protem speaker in the house.

Both Nitish Kumar and Tejaswi Yadav expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family.

According to assembly officials, the first two days of the session have been earmarked for the oach-taking by the 243 newly elected legislators, including 99 first-timers, followed by election of the new speaker in place of Uday Narain Choudhary, who was defeated in the Bihar assembly polls.

Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind will address a joint sitting of Bihar's legislature - the newly-constituted assembly and the council - on December 3.

IANS