Newly elected J&K MLAs to take oath in Srinagar today

Srinagar: The newly elected MLAs of Jammu and Kashmir will be administered the oath of office in the Legislative Assembly here on Monday, ending a six-year-long legislative hiatus.
Pro tem Speaker Mubarak Gul will administer the oath to the MLAs, who include 51 first-time members. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 2 pm.
The National Conference (NC) emerged as the single largest party in the assembly polls held in September and October.
The oldest political party of Jammu and Kashmir has formed the government with external support from Congress, which has six MLAs. Five independent MLAs, one MLA from the AAP, and the CPI(M) have also extended their support.
The BJP with 29 seats is the second-largest party -- its best-ever performance in the state.
BJP MLA from Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar is the youngest legislator at 29, while NC's veteran and MLA from Chrar-e-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather, the oldest at 80.
Rather and party colleague Ali Mohammad Sagar (MLA Khanyar) are the only two people to have been elected to the assembly for a record seven terms.
While Sagar has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 1983, Rather started his long stint as a legislator in 1977. However, the former finance minister lost the 2014 assembly elections.
There are three women MLAs in the house including Parihar, MLA of DH Pora Sakina Masood Itoo and MLA of Habba Kadal Shameema Firdous, both from NC.
Meanwhile, Speaker Pro-tem, J&K Legislative Assembly, Mubarik Gul, today impressed upon the officers to put in place all the required facilities and ensure that all necessary preparations are in order to facilitate smooth oath ceremony of newly elected Members of J&K Legislative Assembly.
The Speaker Pro-tem made these remarks while chairing a meeting of officers to review arrangements for oath taking ceremony of newly elected legislative assembly members being administered on Monday.
During the meeting, Speaker Pro-tem took in-depth review of all the arrangements and other facilities for the smooth oath taking ceremony.
He directed the officers to ensure that all basic amenities are established well before time in the Assembly Complex besides other arrangements like audio-visual support, internet connectivity, electricity, among others are also put in place.
Speaker Pro-tem also called upon the officers to focus on other key areas like technological setup for digital participation and accessibility of other required resources for all members. He also asked the SMC Commissioner for proper sanitation of Assembly Complex besides regular cleaning in and around the Complex.
While reviewing other arrangements, the Speaker Pro-tem delved upon the officers to designate the parking spaces for Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers, members and staff of the Assembly. He directed the Chief Engineer for proper maintenance of roads and other spaces leading to Assembly as well as the parking area.
Speaker Pro-tem also called upon the security agencies to ensure fool proof security arrangements in and around the Legislative Assembly Complex.

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