Ganpat Vasava elected Speaker of Gujarat Assembly unopposed

Gandhinagar, 9 November 2014

Gujarat assembly today got its Speaker in southern Gujarat MLA Ganpatbhai Vasava.

Vasava’s election was unanimous as Conrgess had already declared support to BJP’s choice.

Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Leader of opposition Shankersinh Vaghela took Vasava to chair of Speaker as per a tradition.

Vasava replaces Shri Vajubhai Vala who resigned from the post of Speaker after his appointment as Governor of Karnataka.

Vasava has been Speaker of Gujarat assembly in past too when Narendra Modi was Chief Minister.

Modi had described him as first tribal Speaker of Gujarat assembly.

After filing nomination for the post of Speaker, Vasava resigned from the post of cabinet minister of Forest and Environment, Tribal Welfare, Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Expansion of Anandiben Patel cabinet is likely this week to fill Vasava’s space and also to induct senior BJP leader Vijaybhai Rupani.

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Gujarat Chief Minister congratulated Ganpatbhai who started his career in rural tribal area. Ganpatbhai has been 16th Speaker of Gujarat Assembly during 24-2-2011 to 26-12-2012. Vasava is MLA since 2002. He is MA post graduate. Born on 1 June 1971, Vasava belongs to Vadi village of Umarpada taluka in Surat district. He has been in various committees of Gujarat assembly including forest department, tribal department consulting committee, PSU committee, tabled documents committee. He has served at former Director of Gujarat Rajya Vanvikas Nigam. He has been minister in Narendra Modi cabinet and in Anandiben Patel cabinet. He has wife and two children. He is associated with Sahara Manav Kalyan Trust, Vadi, Umarpada taluka.

Author’s note: With government having clear majority in place, with two-three days long assembly sessions (barring one budget session each year which is about month long), and prescribed line of practice and well-established style of functioning evolved during Narendra Modi’s leadership in the state, the post of Gujarat assembly speaker is just ornamental or procedural. The website of Gujarat Assembly that offers least transparency is down like always even today. Electronic question/answer system, live webcasting etc initiatives are much awaited but not implemented. When Vasava was Speaker earlier, the things were same. For common people, Vasava or anyone else becoming Speaker in present circumstances is irrelevant.