Senior Cong MLA Wanki Lowang new Arunachal Speaker

The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly today unanimously elected senior Congress MLA Wanki Lowang as the Speaker.

The Speaker’s seat fell vacant after 21 Congress dissident MLAs along with 11 BJP and two Independent members passed a motion to impeach Nabam Rebia during the two-day Assembly session on December 16 and 17 last year after BJP members moved the motion.

Lowang was supported by 40 members in the House of 58 (total 60) as two Congress members were unseated by Rebia earlier.

However, 17 Congress MLAs supporting former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki remained absent during the voting.

Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, while welcoming the decision of the members, termed Lowang as an “experienced person and well-versed” in Assembly proceedings.

Lowang, who represents Namsang constituency in troubled Tirap district, was consecutively elected to the Assembly from the constituency since 1999. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary.