Jammu: Three-time MLA Nawang Rigzin Jora was on Thursday elected as leader of Congress Legislative Party in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly at the winter capital.
"Jora was elected as CLP leader in Jammu and Kashmir here today," Congress spokesman Dr Rashid Choudhary told reporters after conclusion of elections meeting.
Congress has 12 legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and majority of them favoured election of Jora as CLP leader, he said.
AICC general secretary BK Hariprasad and secretary Moin-ul-Haq supervised the elections in presence of newly-appointed President of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Gulam Ahmed Mir.
The election observers met the MLAs individually and conveyed their choice as well as the approval of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to announce Jora as the new CLP leader.
"The Deputy CLP leader and Chief Whip of party will be announced soon and observers have taken the view point of MLAs in this regard," spokesman said.
State Congress president Mir congratulated the new CLP leader and said that the party will play the role of an effective opposition in the Assembly.
"Party has given me the responsibility and I will try to come up to the expectation of the party," Jora told a news agency.
56-year old Jora also added "we will play the role of effective and constructive opposition".
Jora, who won Assembly Elections in Leh in 2002, 2008 and 2014, was a Cabinet minister in the Mufti Sayeed government from 2002-05, followed by a tenure under Ghulam Nabi Azad`s chief minister-ship from 2006-08. He was also a part of Omar Abdullah dispensation from 2009.
The leader was also part of Ladakhi Bhuddist Association (LBA), which is advocating the cause of ladakh region.
