Date:20/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/20/stories/2008122055100400.htm

New Delhi

Yoganand Shastri is new Speaker

Staff Reporter

Elected by a unanimous voice vote; succeeds Chaudhry Prem Singh

- Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW SPEAKER IS HERE: Newly-elected Speaker Yoganand Shastri with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra inside the Assembly on Friday.

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri was on Friday unanimously elected Speaker of Delhi Assembly. It was Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who proposed the name of the 64-year-old Mehrauli MLA for the post in the Assembly and thereafter it was accepted by a unanimous voice vote.

Dr. Shastri was then escorted by Ms Dikshit and Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra to his Chair where Pro-Tem Speaker Jagdish Mukhi welcomed him.

Born on April 17, 1944 in Bhadhani village of Haryana, Dr. Shastri is an intellectual of international eminence who believes in simple living and the enhancement of Indian cultural heritage and values. An academician, he joined the Bhagat Singh College, Delhi University at a teacher in 1971.

A doctor in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Dr. Shastri has specialised in ancient languages and scripts such as Brahmi, Kharoshthi and Indo-Greek. He is also the author of a book “Youdheya Republic in Ancient India” that was published in 1999. He also wrote ‘Tiranga’, a chapter in the documentary film on National Movement produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

A three-time MLA, Dr Shastri was first elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 1998 with an impressive margin and took oath as a Minister for Development, Food and Civil Supplies. He has also served as vice-president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC). In 2003, this Jat leader was re-elected to the Delhi Legislative Assembly from Malviya Nagar and became the Minister for Health and Social Welfare.

This time, however, Dr. Shastri – who won from Mehrauli, was not included in the Delhi Cabinet and it was decided that he should be made the Speaker. Dr. Shastri has now replaced Chaudhry Prem Singh.

Following Dr. Shastri’s election, Ms Dikshit expressed happiness at his taking over the post. She also pointed out that the ruling party and the opposition should work unitedly on all issues and said misgivings created by the media should not be allowed to come in the way. Prof. Malhotra also hailed Dr. Shastri’s election and said the media plays an important role in highlighting the problems of the people.