SRINAGAR: Veteran National Conference leader and seven-time MLA from Charar-e-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather, was elected as the first Speaker of the legislative assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. Rather, aged 80, was elected as Speaker through a voice vote after opposition parties decided against contesting the position. The election was conducted by Protem Speaker Mubarak Gul.
Minister for Agriculture Javed Ahmad Dar moved a motion to nominate Rather for the post of Speaker, and the motion was seconded by NC MLA Ramban Arjun Singh Raju on the first day of the five-day session. Following his election, Rather was escorted to the chair by the Leader of the House Omar Abdullah and Leader of Opposition, BJP’s Sunil Sharma.
Rather has previously held the position of Speaker in the legislative assembly of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2008 during the tenure of the PDP-Congress coalition government that ruled the state.
This session marked the House’s return after a gap of more than six years, with the last session taking place in early 2018, just a year before the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. The election of Abdul Rahim Rather signifies a crucial step in the legislative process in the newly established Union Territory.
