Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19 2010:
The Congress party has decided to appoint a senior MLA of the party who has won the Assembly elections twice or thrice to the post of Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker which is currently vacant.
The matter would be confirmed after Chief Minister Okram Ibobi returns from Delhi.
A senior Minister of the SPF Government informed that three senior MLAs who got elected in the last two/three terms of the State Assembly have been short-listed for the Speaker's post.
But the new Speaker would be selected only after the Chief Minister arrives from Delhi.
MLA I Hemochandra, elected from Singjamei constituency and MLA T Mangibabu, elected from Thanga constituency are among the three short-listed candidates.
Polling for election of a new Speaker would be held on December 23 .
The post of Speaker has been lying vacant since the demise of incumbent Speaker Sapam Budhichandra on September 30 last though Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshore has taken charge of the Speaker.
Meanwhile, in view of the upcoming winter session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly scheduled on December 22 and 23, black-topping of roads and other beautification works have started inside the Assembly complex.