KATHMANDU: Newly-elected Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota on Sunday pledged to play a balanced and neutral role to maintain the dignity of the House of Representatives (HoR).

Speaking to journalists after being elected unopposed to the coveted post, Sapkota said he will ensure a neutral and balanced role while maintaining the norms and values, and ideals of democracy.

He, however, skipped a query on the charge of murder against him saying, “I would not talk anything about it now.”

Sapkota, leader of ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) on Sunday.

A meeting of the HoR elected Sapkota to the post as no lawmaker contested his candidacy.

Even though Sapkota’s candidacy as the Speaker was challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) accusing him of his involvement in the abduction and murder of Arjun Lama in 2005 in Kavre, the HoR elected Sapkota as the Speaker today.

Former Speaker and NCP leader Subash Chandra Nembang proposed Sapkota’s candidacy. Likewise, another former Speaker Onsari Gharti and NCP chief whip Dev Gurung seconded Nembang’s proposal at the HoR. The senior-most member of the HoR Mahanta Thakur chaired today’s session.

Nepali Congress (NC), the main opposition, too, supported Sapkota by not filing its candidacy for the post in the hope of getting NCP’s support for its candidate for the post of Deputy Speaker. Sapkota represents Sindhupalchowk district and has also served as a minister.