STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:
Next Assam Assembly Speaker: Biswajit Daimary, a BJP MLA from Paneri, will be the Speaker of the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA). An office-bearers' meeting of the BJP decided it at a meeting this morning. The meeting also decided to elect BJP's Bokajan MLA Dr Numal Momin as the Deputy Speaker of the House.
Daimary filed his nomination papers for the post of Speaker this afternoon before the ALA Secretary. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, AGP president-cum-Minister Atul Bora, State BJP president-cum-Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass, a few other ministers, MLAs and senior leaders of the ruling coalition.
Since Daimary is the lone candidate to have filed nomination papers for the post of Speaker, his election is almost final. Tomorrow Protem Speaker Phani Bhushan Choudhury will declare the formal election of Daimary as the Speaker at the Assembly session.
The name of the Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly will be declared on the last day of the Assembly session on May 24, 2021.
Meanwhile, the first session of the 15th Assam Legislative Assembly will begin on May 21 and continue for three working days – May 21, 22 and 24 – in conformity with COVID-appropriate behaviour.
On Thursday, Assam Assembly staffers, other officials related to the Assembly session, media persons and security personnel underwent COVID-19 tests.
On the first day of the session, i.e. on Friday Protem Speaker Phani Bhushan Choudhury will administer the oath of office to the 125 MLAs. The Chief Minister will take the oath first, to be followed by ministers, the former Chief Minister, the former Speaker and then MLAs.
On Saturday, the Governor will deliver his speech.
Meanwhile, the NIA Court has permitted Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, who is under judicial custody, to take oath on Friday. He is under treatment at the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital). He will be taken to the Assembly by police personnel and taken back to the hospital after the oath.