ALA to celebrate 80th foundation day on April 7
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 4: The Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) is going to be 80 on April 7, 2017, back from 1937 when it was established at Shillong with its first sitting on April 7. ALA is going to celebrate the day at the Central Hall of its building at Dispur.
On April 7, 2017 Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, the chief guest at the function, will address the august gathering at 5.15 pm. His speech will be immediately followed by that of ALA Speaker Hitendra th Goswami. Earlier in the day, former Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker and the guest of honour at the celebration Pulakesh Baruah will address the gathering. His speech will be followed by that of distinguished guest at the function Himanta Biswa Sarma, State Fince Minister.
In accordance with provisions of the Government of India Act 1935, a bicameral legislature of Assam province came into existence in 1937. After the Government of India Act 1935 was passed, it paved the way for the formation of Assam Legislative Assembly, and became a bicameral legislature. The strength of the House was 108, where all the members were elected. The Legislative Council (Upper House) was not less than 21 and not more than 22 members.
The first sitting of its lower house, the Assam Legislative Assembly, took place on April 7, 1937 in the Assembly Chamber at Shillong, the capital of the composite Assam.
The partition of India in 1947 scripted a few significant developments in the anls of the State Assembly. The partition of India reduced the strength of the Assembly to 71 from 108 with the inclusion of Sylhet district in Pakistan. The reduction in the strength of the Assembly led to the abolition of the Assam Legislative Council (MLC or the Upper House) and the House became a unicameral one.
In the years that followed, Assam was truncated to several smaller states. And over the years, with the changing geographical boundaries and increase in population, the strength of members has changed from 108 in 1952-57 to 114 in 1967-72 (the third Assembly) and by 1972-78 (the fifth Assembly). It has strength of 126 members now. And now making the State Assembly a bicameral one is the popular demand in the State.
