Ganpat Vasava set to become Gujarat Assembly Speaker

Post of Assembly Speaker fell vacant after Vaju Vala was appointed Governor of Karnataka

BJP MLA from Mangrol and state cabinet minister Ganpat Vasava is all set to become the new Speaker of the Gujarat state Assembly. On Friday he filed nomination papers for the post. His nomination also has support from the opposition Congress.

Election for the post of Speaker will be held on November 10 when the two-day state Assembly session commences.

Vasava was earlier elected as Speaker in February 2011 after the death of then Speaker Ashok Bhatt.

Forty-three-year-old Vasava, currently, holds portfolios of forest and environment, tribal development as well as legislative and parliamentary affairs in the Gujarat government.

The post of Assembly Speaker fell vacant after its current incumbent Vaju Vala was appointed as the Governor of Karnataka, following which he resigned from the post.

In 2012, Vaju Vala was elected Gujarat Assembly Speaker, while Vasava was made cabinet minister.

On Friday, accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and other leaders and ministers, Vasava filed his nomination for the post of Gujarat Assembly Speaker.

With no one else filing papers, Vasava is all set to be elected unanimously during the forthcoming two-day Assembly session, beginning from November 10.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Gujarat Assembly Shankersinh Vaghela has declared the Congress party’s support to Vasava for the post of Speaker.

“The post of a speaker is a dignified position, which should be beyond party politics. Thus, I have also submitted a proposal extending Congress’ support to him. We expect him to be elected unanimously during the forthcoming session,” Vaghela, who was also present when Vasava filed his papers, said.