AGARTALA, June 21 - Veteran Congress-turned-BJP MLA Biswabhandu Sen was today elected unanimously as the Deputy Speaker of the Tripura Assembly with the Opposition CPI (M) not fielding any candidate for the post.
Shortly after the Question Hour was over, Speaker Rebati Mohan Das announced the process for election of the Deputy Speaker and said that there was no need for election to the post.
Sen, as the lone candidate, was declared elected unanimously and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath and the Leader of Opposition Manik Sarkar escorted him to the chair.
Sen thanked all members of the House and declared his resolve to conduct the proceedings in a fair manner consistent with the best parliamentary tradition.
Subsequently, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and the Leader of Opposition Manik Sarkar delivered speeches appreciating the role of Sen as a legislator for several years.
Sen had left the Congress to join the TMC in the last Assembly. He later switched over to the BJP before the Assembly election this year. � PTI
