Assam Legislative Assembly Set to Convene for First Sitting on May 21

The Assembly Secretariat has issued a notice confirming that the newly elected 16th Assam Legislative Assembly will hold its first sitting on May 21 at the Assembly Chamber in Dispur, with proceedings scheduled to begin at 9:30 am. The Governor, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, has convened the opening session of the Assembly under Article 174 of the Constitution for the same date. Before the session, senior BJP leader Chandra Mohan Patowary was sworn in as pro-tem Speaker on Friday and will administer the oath to newly elected members at the first sitting. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier said the session would continue for four days and conclude on May 26, with legislators taking oath on the opening day followed by the election of the Speaker. Senior BJP leader and former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass has been nominated by the ruling NDA for the post of Speaker. He had earlier held the position after the BJP formed the government in 2016. A Governor’s address is also expected on the opening day. The NDA has secured a third consecutive term in Assam, winning a two-thirds majority in the Assembly elections.