Govt assigns portfolios to ministers, Rahim Rather to be new assembly's speaker

Srinagar, Oct 18: The government of National Conference Thursday assigned its leader and seven-time MLA Abdul Rahim Rather the task of the speaker of J&K legislative assembly, reports said.

Reports suggested that the ruling party is offering the post of the Deputy Speaker to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the second largest part in the house after the NC. However, if the opposition party has agreed, is still to be known.

Abdul Rahim Rather has handled several important portfolios especially the Finance Ministry. He also remained the Leader of Opposition during PDP-Congress coalition Government.

Mubarak Gul, who served as the Speaker in National Conference-Congress coalition Government for about two years, and is also a seventh time legislator, is expected to be sworn-in as pro-tem Speaker on Monday.

Election of the Speaker will be conducted by the pro-tem Speaker. However, since the National Conference has decided to offer post of the Deputy Speaker to the BJP, both Speaker and Deputy Speaker are expected to be elected unanimously.