Saturday, June 27, 2026
ADVT 
India

Punjab Assembly Session Begins, Badals Absent

Darpan News Desk, 24 Mar, 2017 01:26 PM
    The first session of the newly-elected 15th Punjab Assembly began here on Friday, with swearing-in of the new members. Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and ex-Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal remained absent.
     
    Protem Speaker Rana K.P. Singh said that 115 of the 117 legislators took oath on Friday.
     
    Only Badal senior and Sukhbir Badal, who is also the Akali Dal president, did not attend the session and could not take the oath.
     
    The Congress government, led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, took office on March 16 after the Congress swept the February 4 assembly polls, winning 77 seats.
     
     
    The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won 20 seats, while its ally Lok Insaaf Party won two.
     
    The Badals' Shiromani Akali Dal won 15 seats while ally Bharatiya Janata Party won three seats. 
     
    The Akali Dal-BJP alliance ruled Punjab for a decade from 2007.
     
    The new Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected on Monday.
     
    Governor V.P. Singh Badnore will address the assembly on March 28, followed by a debate on the address and Motion of Thanks, besides presentation of Supplementary Grants for the 2016-17 fiscal and a Vote on Account for fiscal 2017-18 on March 29.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Manmohan Singh's new home is ready to receive him

    Manmohan Singh's new home is ready to receive him
    After a decade at 7 Race Course Road, the official residence of the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh and his wife are ready to move into 3 Motilal Nehru Marg, a sprawling bungalow on a busy roundabout not too far from where he has been staying.

    Manmohan Singh's new home is ready to receive him

    Anticipating victory, BJP prepares for big day

    Anticipating victory, BJP prepares for big day
    Jubilant even before the results of the Lok Sabha election are declared Friday, the BJP office in Delhi was Thursday decked up and party workers got ready with fire crackers and sweets.

    Anticipating victory, BJP prepares for big day

    Modi keeps cards to himself, but names do the rounds

    Modi keeps cards to himself, but names do the rounds
    With the BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi keeping all cards close to his chest on ministry formation if the NDA comes to power, party leaders Thursday publicly said there was only media speculation on the issue. Yet names of possible cabinet ministers kept doing the rounds in the expectation of a Modi government by next week if the exit poll predictions get confirmed Friday.

    Modi keeps cards to himself, but names do the rounds

    India all set to count 550 million votes

    India all set to count 550 million votes
    The Election Commission is all set to count Friday some 550 million votes cast in the Lok Sabha polls that are widely expected to return the BJP to power, a top official said Thursday.

    India all set to count 550 million votes

    America on the horns of a Modi dilemma

    America on the horns of a Modi dilemma
    BJP leader Modi's likely elevation as the next Indian prime minister has put the US in a quandary - how to mend fences with a man it has shunned for years without losing face.

    America on the horns of a Modi dilemma

    Indian women largest online food shoppers: Survey

    Indian women largest online food shoppers: Survey
    Indian women have come a long way from being homemakers to being the largest consumers of online food. They are dynamically using the handiness of internet services for satiating the food choices of their families, a survey says.

    Indian women largest online food shoppers: Survey