Suspense lingers over names of HPCC chief, Assembly Speaker

All eyes are focussed on tomorrow's meeting of the Congress Legislature Party at Dharamsala where the name of the party candidate for the post of the Speaker will be announced.

"The decision regarding the candidate for the post of the Speaker will be announced tomorrow," the Chief Minister, who is also Himachal Congress chief, told reporters here.

"No decision has been taken regarding the candidate for the new HPCC chief," he said.

"I am the HPCC president as of now," quipped Singh who had resigned from the post of the HPCC chief.

Asked about reports pertaining to resignations of chairpersons of Boards and Corporations, he said "these are false and baseless".

The Chief Minister, who returned here from Delhi this afternoon, said the election of the Speaker would be held during the Assembly session commencing on January eight.

Election of the Deputy Speaker could be deferred till the budget session, he said.

On his visit to Delhi, he said he had met the central party leaders and discussed issues pertaining to the state.