TL-ASSEMBLY-NOMINATED MLA(MES1)

The Telangana Cabinet Monday

decided to nominate Elvis Stephenson as the nominated member

of the Assembly.

A proposal to this effect has been forwarded to

Governor E S L Narasimhan and a Gazette notification would be

issued upon his consent, a release from the Chief Minister's

office said.

The cabinet has taken the decision in accordance with

the provisions of the Constitution to provide representation

to the Anglo-Indian community in the Assembly.

Stephenson was the nominated member in the previous

House as well.

The Cabinet, comprising Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar

Rao and Home Minister Mohd Mehmood Ali, held its first meeting

on Monday after its formation on December 13.

The Telangana government is taking decisions as per

the "Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb" (composite culture) with reference

to matters concerning the Legislative Assembly, it said.

"Mumtaz Ahmed Khan (MLA of AIMIM) of Muslim community

is nominated as Pro-tem speaker," it said.

During the previous stint, Stephenson was in the news

in connection with the so-called cash-for-vote scam in which

the then TDP MLA (now a Congress leader) A Revanth Reddy was

caught by Anti-Corruption Bureau while allegedly paying a

bribe of Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson for supporting the TDP

nominee in Legislative Council elections.

The release said the Cabinet has placed on record its

deep appreciation to the Election Commission in general and

state Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar for successful and

peaceful conduct of the assembly elections.

The state government has decided to provide copies of

the Constitution, assembly procedures, and other information

connected to the legislative procedures in Telugu, English and

Urdu languages to all the MLAs, the release added.

The newly-elected Telangana Legislative Assembly would

meet on January 17 for four days for the members to take oath

and to elect the Speaker and also take up the Governor's

address to the joint session of the legislature.

Senior AIMIM MLA from Charminar Assembly constituency

Mumtaz Ahmed Khan would act as the pro tem Speaker, a release

from the Chief Minister's office had said on Saturday.