Telangana Legislative Assembly paves for Anglo-Indian leader

Elvis Stephenson of the Anglo-Indian community was Monday re-nominated as a member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly. A notification to this effect was issued, according to a Government Order (GO). Earlier in the day, the Telangana Cabinet decided to nominate Stephenson as a member of the state assembly. 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, a release from the CM's office said. Stephenson was the nominated MLA 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 Cabinet has decided to nominate the Anglo-Indian community representative to enable him to take oath along with other elected MLAs which never happened in the history Assembly, it said. 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 the 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.

Governor ESL Narasimhan Monday issued a notification summoning the first session of the Assembly at 11.30 AM on January 17. The newly-elected Telangana Legislative Assembly would meet on January 17 for four days for the members to take an 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 like the pro tem Speaker, a release from the Chief Minister's office had said on Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies.)