Purnesh Modi Elected Gujarat Assembly Deputy Speaker Amidst Voice Vote

• BJP MLA Purnesh Modi was elected the new Deputy Speaker of the Gujarat Assembly via a voice vote.
• The election took place on the first day of the Budget session, with Congress fielding Shailesh Parmar.
• Modi, a three-time MLA from Surat West, succeeds Jethabhai Bharwad, who resigned in December.
• BJP holds a strong majority with 162 seats in the 182-member Assembly.
• Modi gained prominence for filing a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in 2019.