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Maderna ascends as Rajasthan speaker

Senior Congress member Paras Ram Maderna will be the new speaker of Rajasthan.

Leader of opposition in the last assembly, Maderna made it to the House for the ninth time from Bhoapalgarh in Jodhpur district. He was the only contestant for the post when the deadline for submitting candidature ran out Monday afternoon.

Maderna's candidature was moved by Finance Minister Chandan Mal Baid and seconded by senior BJP member and former minister Bhanwar Lal Sharma. The formal announcement of his election would be made in the House on January 6, the day of the election.

Meanwhile, 192 newly-elected members took oath from Pro-tem Speaker Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on the opening day of the 11th state legislature.

Four members -- Narendra Singh Bhati, Shrvan Kumar and Madho Singh Deewan (Congress) and Surendra Vyas (independent) were absent. Election in three constituencies were countermanded.

Shekhawat had taken oath Sunday from Governor Navrang Lal Tibrewal.

As Congress legislature party leader Ashok Gehlot is not currently an assembly member, Baid has been nominated as the leader of the House.

UNI

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