The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) legislator M Padma Devender Reddy became Telangana first Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Telangana first Deputy Speaker
With opposition parties not fielding any candidate, the 45-year-old law graduate and two-time MLA was declared elected to the post.
Padma, who defeated actor-turned-politician Vijayashanti in Medak constituency in the recent Assembly elections, later assumed charge as the House took up discussion on the motion of thanks for the Governor’s address.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and members cutting across party lines congratulated her.
Under Article 178 of the Indian Constitution, the Legislative Assembly shall choose one of its members as Deputy Speaker. The date of holding the election to the office of the Deputy Speaker is fixed by the Speaker of the House. The procedure of the election of the Deputy Speaker is same as that of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker is elected from among the members of the Legislative Assembly. The Deputy Speaker occupies the first seat in the front row of the Block III of the Telangana Legislative Assembly.
In the absence of the Speaker or when the Office of the Speaker is vacant, the duties of the Speaker are performed by the Deputy Speaker. When the Deputy Speaker presides over a sitting of the Legislative Assembly, he has the same powers as the Speaker.
The Deputy Speaker holds office till the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly, unless he ceases to be a member of the Legislative Assembly for any reasons specified in Article 179 of the Indian Constitution.
