Yoganand Shastri elected Speaker

Congratulating Shastri, Dikshit said: 8220;The Delhi Assembly is one of the best-run Assemblies and every one gets an equal chance to speak. But sometimes the Opposition comes into the well of the House to protest, seeking media attention.8221;

Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Malhotra was quick to respond: 8220;The chief minister8217;s comments were unwarranted.8221;

Chaudhary Prem Singh, who has been Speaker of Delhi Assembly for the last 10 years, was seen sitting with Shastri minutes before House proceedings started.

Shastri, a three-time MLA, has been active in politics since 1971 and was the joint secretary of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee from 1991 to 1994. He was first elected to the Delhi Assembly in 1998 and has held the Food and Supply portfolio for four years.

Chief whip elected
Sadar Bazaar MLA Rajesh Jain has been appointed as Chief Whip. Several names are doing the rounds for the Parliament Secretariat, including Model Town MLA Kunwar Karn Singh, Patel Nagar MLA Rajesh Lilothia and RK Puram MLA Barkha Singh. Former Chief Whip Ramakant Goswami and former Parliamentary Secretary Naseeb Singh have been accommodated as DDA members.