Dass is the only person to become speaker for second consecutive term.Pro tem Speaker Chandra Mohan Patowary, “Three nominations were moved in favour of Dass, as there is no other nomination, I declare Ranjeet Kumar Dass as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly,” Patowary announced.
Dass after his election expressed hope that he would uphold neutrality and democratic values while conducting proceedings in the House.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “I extend my congratulations to you on being elected as the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Today, all 126 MLAs took oath and your election as Speaker is a matter of pride for the BJP and the Assembly as a whole,” Sarma said.
The Chief Minister said, “No individual in Assa, had become Speaker for a second term. Ranjeet Kumar Dass has achieved that distinction.”
Sarma also traced Dass’s professional journey, noting that he hailed from Barpeta, pursued higher studies at Gauhati University and worked in journalism before entering public service and later politics.
Dass later joined the Indian Information Service (IIS) after clearing the UPSC examination in 1996.He later resigned from service in 2005 to join active politics. Asom Gana Parishad (AGP president Atul Bora assured full cooperation in maintaining the dignity and procedures of the House.
Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury congratulated Dass and said the opposition expected him to continue maintaining neutrality while conducting proceedings.
Sherman Ali
The first day of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly witnessed an unexpected political scene on Thursday. The Trinamool Congress MLA chanted “Mamata Didi zindabad (Long live, sister Mamata).”
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee portion was expunged from proceeding.Ahmed, the MLA from the Mandia constituency, joined TMC on March 21, days before the Assam Assembly elections.
A three-term MLA, Ahmed was suspended from Congress in 2021 for “anti-party” activities. He had joined the Raijor Dal in February and was named its vice-president and candidate from Mandia. Dramatically when the Congress and the Raijor Dal finalised their seat-sharing agreement, Ahmed was not formally nominated.
Ahmed outside the assembly defended his statement.”I would like to express my gratitude to Mamata Didi for considering the party ticket in my favour. At a very crucial time before the elections, many political parties avoided me, but Mamata Didi rescued me politically.”
He added, “In my previous 15 years as an MLA, I never received such encouragement and political respect. I am the lone MLA of the Trinamool Congress in Assam today, but the party will definitely grow stronger in the state.”
Ahmed hinted at the party’s plans in Assam and said the Trinamool Congress is preparing for the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election.
“We are planning seriously for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election. Assam Trinamool Congress will appoint a strong leader for the election battle.”
BJP MLA from Thowra constituency Sushanta Borgohain criticised the slogan raised during the swearing-in ceremony. “Mamata Banerjee is naturally their leader, but shouting such slogans inside the Assembly during oath-taking does not look appropriate. Sherman Ali Ahmed may have tried to show respect towards his leader from the Assam Assembly floor, but the incident is unfortunate.”
