JAMMU : National Conference leader and former Minister Nazir Ahmad Gurezi was today elected as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly here.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Basharat Ahmad Bukhari gave a notice to this effect in the Assembly Secretariat while Forests and Social Welfare Minister Bali Bhagat seconded the motion. Ruling PDP-BJP coalition offered post of the Deputy Speaker to the National Conference, the largest opposition party in the Assembly and asked NC Legislature Party to name the MLA for the post. The ruling coalition has offered post of the Deputy Speaker to the opposition keeping in view the tradition going on since 2002 when PDP-Congress coalition had offered the post to NC. Mohammad Akbar Lone, NC MLA, was then elected as the Deputy Speaker. In 2008, NC-Congress coalition had offered the post to the PDP. Sartaj Madni was then elected as the Deputy Speaker. (AGENCIES)