Gangtok: The newly-formed Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) government took part in the 11th Legislative Assembly session on Wednesday.
Thirty legislators of the SKM party unanimously selected Mingma Norbu Sherpa from the Daramdin constituency as the new Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. Raj Kumari Thapa, representing the Yangang Rangang constituency, was selected as the Deputy Speaker.
Nineteen legislators of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, including the lone Sikkim Democratic Front party legislator Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, took the oath of office from pro-tem Speaker Sanjeet Kharel. Kharel was selected as the pro-tem Speaker after taking his oath from Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Tuesday. Kharel represents the Namthang Rateypani constituency.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay had previously selected eleven legislators to be ministers of the new Sikkim government.
Addressing the media after the Assembly session, Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay shared, “Our main focus will be on Bijli, Pani, and Sadak, collectively coined as BiPaSa. We will be laying equal focus on the health and education sectors of the state, as in the previous government tenure.”
When asked when the portfolio for the twelve ministers will be declared, Golay said, “By this evening, everyone will know about the ministers’ portfolios. I am sure the media has already started guessing who will be the minister for which department.”
On MN Sherpa being the first Sherpa community representative to be Speaker of the Assembly, Golay added, ” Taking into consideration the representation of Sherpa community, MN Sherpa was given the responsibility of a speaker. Speaker of the Assembly is a prestigious post”.
Golay who represents the constituencies of Soreng Chakung and Rhenock constituency, will have to leave one of the constituencies. He shared, ” I will have to leave one constituency as a legislator, so in 15 days you will know which constituency I will be leaving as a legislator”.
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