Shimla: Jawali MLA Chandra Kumar took oath as Pro-tem Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in the presence of Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar today.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri was present at the simple ceremony held at Raj Bhavan here. Principal Secretary General Administration Bharat Kheda conducted the proceedings.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu could not attend the function as he had tested Covid positive and is under quarantine at Himachal Sadan, New Delhi.
Chander, a six-time MLA, will act as the Speaker of the Assembly till the new Speaker is elected. He lost the 1977 assembly elections as an independent candidate.
He is credited with setting up the National Institute of Fashion and Designing in Kangra and sanctioning Rs 124 crore for the Tanda Medical College in Kangra, said a press note issued here.
He was also instrumental in bringing important bills including Right to Food, Right to Health, Right to Employment, Right to Information and Right to Education during the UPA-1 government.
