Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has appointed Shoaib Iqbal, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislature from Matia Mahal Assembly seat as the pro-tem Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. Iqbal, who has won Matia Mahal seat for the sixth time, will oversee the oath-taking of newly-elected members on February 24 when the first session of the Assembly begins. The order appointing Iqbal was issued on Thursday night.
Iqbal had lost to Asim Ahmed Khan of AAP in 2015, He won the seat back as he contested on AAP ticket in the recently held Delhi Assembly elections. Though Iqbal, who is one of senior most legislators, has been appointed as the pro-tem Speaker but is unlikely to become the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Sources said Ram Niwas Goel, who was the Speaker in the previous Delhi Assembly, is likely to retain the post.
A three-day session of the Delhi Assembly will begin from February 24 during which the Speaker will be chosen. The lieutenant governor is likely to address the House during the three-day session.
Last week, the Seventh Delhi Legislative Assembly was constituted after the Aam Aadmi Party won 62 seats in the 70-member House. The BJP won eight seats while the Congress drew a blank.
