16th Assam Assembly Inaugural: A New Beginning

The first session of the 16th Assam Assembly is set to commence on May 21, according to an official notification issued by the Assam Legislative Assembly Secretariat. The proceedings, scheduled to begin at 9:30 am in Dispur, were announced following an order by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya.

The seniormost MLA, Chandra Mohan Patowary of the BJP, was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker by the Governor. Patowary will administer the oath to the newly elected MLAs during the assembly's inaugural session. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma indicated the four-day session will include the election of a new Speaker.

The NDA has nominated Ranjeet Kumar Dass, a senior BJP legislator and former minister, as the candidate for the Speaker's post. Having previously held the position, Dass has been named following the NDA's third consecutive term victory in Assam's legislative elections, where the BJP secured 82 seats and its allies AGP and BPF each won 10 seats.

(With inputs from agencies.)