Mumtaz Ahmed Khan sworn in as Telangana pro-tem Speaker

Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh E S L Narasimhan Wednesday administered the oath of office to senior AIMIM MLA from Charminar assembly constituency Mumtaz Ahmed Khan as pro tem Speaker. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and senior government officials were present during the swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.

The pro-tem speaker would administer the oath to members of the assembly on January 17, when its four-day session begins. On the same day, the schedule for the Speaker's election would be announced, following which the nomination process would commence, an official press release said. The announcement on the election result would take place the next day. Later, the assembly proceedings would continue with the newly-elected Speaker, the release added.

Telangana BJP MLA T Raja Singh had said he would not take oath in the presence of Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, the pro-tem Speaker, because the AIMIM allegedly speaks against Hindus. The lone BJP legislator from Goshamahal had said he would take oath only after the regular speaker takes over. Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday urged opposition parties to ensure the Speakers unanimous election.

An official release said Rao spoke to TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy, AIMIM chief Asaduddidn Owaisi and BJP Telangana president K Laxman, seeking their support for the Speakers election. The BJP and MIM readily agreed to Rao's suggestion while Congress conveyed to hi that they would hold discussions within the party on the proposal, the release added. The party position in the 120-member assembly is TRS-88, INC-19, AIMIM-7, TDP-2, independent-1, AIFB-1, BJP-1 and nominated-1.