New Punjab assembly's first session begins

The first session of the newly-elected 15th Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly) of Punjab began here on Friday.

Pro-tem Speaker Rana K.P. Singh administered the oath to some newly-elected members while the remaining ones in the 117-member house will be administered oath on Monday.

The Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the new assembly will be elected on Monday.

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore will address the assembly on March 28, followed by a debate on the address and Motion of Thanks, besides presentation of Supplementary Grants for the 2016-17 fiscal and a Vote on Account for fiscal 2017-18 on March 29.

The Congress government, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, took office in Punjab on March 16 after the Congress swept the February 4 assembly polls, winning 77 of the 117 assembly seats.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 20 seats, while its ally Lok Insaaf Party won two.

The Shiromani Akali Dal won 15 seats while ally Bharatiya Janata Party won three seats. The Akali Dal and the BJP alliance ruled Punjab for two consecutive terms for 10 years until the polls.

--IANS

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