GUWAHATI, May 21: Four-time BJP MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass was on Thursday unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly, becoming the only legislator in the state to assume the chair for the second time.
Pro tem Speaker Chandra Mohan Patowary announced that there were three nominations in favour of Dass, and no one contested him.
“As there is no other nomination, I declare Ranjeet Kumar Dass as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly,” he added.
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This is the second term for Dass as the Speaker of the Assembly. He was in the chair in 2016 when the BJP formed its first government in the northeastern state.
Dass, the MLA from Bhowanipur-Sorbhog seat, was a cabinet minister during Himanta Biswa Sarma’s first term as CM from 2021 to 2026.
He also served the party as its Assam unit chief.
Dass has been elected to the Assam Assembly for four consecutive terms since 2011.
After his election, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Dass.
“Today, you have made history. You are the only person who is assuming the Speaker’s chair for the second time,” Sarma said.
Legislators from the ruling coalition and the opposition parties also congratulated Dass and offered their full support for his tenure.
“We expect you to be fully neutral in the House. We, the opposition, have very few seats this time. So, we will be allotted less time. However, we expect you to show some leniency and give more time to present the issues affecting the people,” Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar said.
Dass, while acknowledging the support of the MLAs, said he would be neutral inside the House.
“However, I am a member of a political party following a particular ideology. It is not easy to leave it instantly,” he added.
Dass also objected to the word ‘Speaker’, saying it originated from British rule.
“I hope there will be some discussions in this House on the usage of the word – Speaker. Sabhapati or Adhyaksh words sound fine. In future, I will try to work as per Indian culture and tradition. I will not follow the British tradition,” he added. The Speaker also appealed to all members to make the Assam Legislative Assembly a model House in the country. (PTI)
