RANCHI: Ravindra Nath Mahto, a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator, was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly on Tuesday. Chief Minister Hemant Soren proposed Mahto’s name for the post which was seconded by JMM MLA Champai Soren during the second of the three-day special Assembly session. Mahto is a three-time legislator from Nala. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2005 and then in 2014 and in 2019.
All the newly-elected MLAs in the 81-member House had been administered oath by pro-term Speaker Stephen Marandi on Monday. Congratulating Mahto, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the Speaker is not only a good leader, but also a good orator. “Mahto’s simplicity is his speciality, which influences everyone,” Soren said.
Later, Governor Droupadi Murmu, in her inaugural speech, said the government will work towards safeguarding Jal, Jangal, Zameen of tribals in the state. The government will also take strict action against people involved in mob-lynching, she said. “This Government will continue the good works done by the earlier Government and will implement CNT-SPT Acts effectively as it is committed to bring prosperity to every doorstep,” said the Governor. Law and order will be strengthened and made more accountable, she added.
The new Jharkhand government pledged all-round development of every section of the society keeping away “malice, hatred, arrogance and vengefulness” while discharging work to live up to words of Jawaharlal Nehru that history cannot be changed merely by changing photo-frames on the wall.Workdays of MGNREGS would be increased to help agriculture workers, it added.