GUWAHATI, June 6 � The first session of the 13th Assam Legislative Assembly started today with pro-tem Speaker Dr Bhumidhar Barman administering oath to 125 legislators. Meanwhile, Pranab Gogoi, legislator from Sivasagar constituency, has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Assembly.
The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi was the first to take oath as a legislator, followed by the members of his Council of Ministers. After the Ministers took oath, the legislators were administered oath one by one and the whole process took two and half hours.
Though the Assembly does not have a Leader of the Opposition as none of the opposition parties has the requisite number of legislators, the chair normally allotted for the person holding the post, has been allotted to All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) legislature party leader Sirajuddin Ajmal.
After the oath taking ceremony, Pranab Gogoi was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the House. There were three nomination papers filed by Congress and BPF legislators in favour of Gogoi, who has been elected to the House thrice from Sivasagar constituency.
Immediately after Dr Barman announced the name of Gogoi as the Speaker, Chief Minister and leaders of the legislature groups of other parties led him to the Chair of the Speaker.
The new Speaker of the House assured the members that he would uphold the dignity of the House and would play an impartial role. He said that there would be no problem in running the House smoothly if all the members abide by the rules. He also thanked the legislators for electing him as the Speaker.
Congratulating the new Speaker, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that with Pranab Gogoi as the custodian of the House, the hopes and aspirations of the people of Assam would be reflected properly in the Assembly.
Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (AGP) hoped that Gogoi would play an impartial role as the custodian of the House. He expressed the hope that the Speaker would allow the opposition members to raise the issues concerning the people in the floor of the House.
Rihon Daimary (BPF) said that his party would cooperate with the Speaker and hoped that both ruling and opposition members would get equal opportunities to raise various issues in the House.
Sirajuddin Ajmal (AIUDF) said that his party would extend support to the Speaker in ensuing smooth functioning of the House and hoped that the Speaker would maintain impartiality.
Several other members congratulated Gogoi for his election as the Speaker.
Meanwhile, Governor JB Patnaik will address the House tomorrow.
