Assam’s Seniormost MLA, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Sworn In As Pro-tem Speaker

Assam Assembly’s senior-most legislator Chandra Mohan Patowary was sworn in as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on Friday. The oath of office was administered by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan.

In a post on X, the Governor stated, “I administered the oath of office as the Pro-tem Speaker of the newly constituted 16th Assam Legislative Assembly to Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary. I am confident that drawing upon his vast experience and commitment to democratic values, the initial proceedings of the Assembly will be conducted with complete constitutional dignity.”

A seven-time MLA and former cabinet minister, Patowary expressed gratitude on social media, describing the appointment as an honour. First elected from Dharmapur in 1985 on an Asom Gana Parishad ticket, he went on to represent the constituency six times, including twice as a BJP legislator since 2016. Following the 2023 delimitation exercise, he successfully contested from the newly created Tihu constituency.

As Pro-tem Speaker, Patowary will administer the oath to newly elected MLAs during the first sitting of the Assembly beginning May 21. The session will span four days, concluding on May 26, with members taking oath on the opening day. He will continue to preside over proceedings until the election of a regular Speaker.

The NDA has named senior BJP leader and former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass as its nominee for the Speaker’s post. Dass had earlier served as Speaker when the BJP-led government first assumed office in Assam in 2016.

The NDA has secured a third consecutive term in the recently concluded Assembly elections, winning a two-thirds majority. The BJP secured 82 seats, while its allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front won 10 seats each in the 126-member House.