MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury to be Protem Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With approval from the Chief Minister and the Governor, it's official now that AGP MLA Phani Bhushan Choudhury will be the Pro-tem Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) that's set to have its first session from May 21, 2021. The Assembly Secretary issued a notification to this effect on Tuesday.

Choudhury will take oath as Protem Speaker at noon on Wednesday. Since Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi is out of the station, as his representative, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua will administer the oath of office to Choudhury.

Choudhry made it to the State Assembly for eight consecutive terms from Bongaigaon LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency) from 1985. He was also the Pro-tem Speaker in the 14th Assembly of the State. In the last Sarbananda Sonowal-led NDA Government at Dispur, he was the Food and Civil Supplies and Pension & Public Grievances Minister.

Meanwhile, the 15th Assembly of the State will be in its first session from May 21 to May 24, 2021. May 23 being a Sunday, the session will be for three days. According to sources, on Day 1 of the session 125 MLAs (barring Phani Bhushan Choudhury) will take the oath. The Speaker will be elected after the oath-taking ceremony.

The Governor will deliver his speech on the second day i.e. May 22. On the third day i.e. May 24 there will be a discussion on the thanks-giving motion of the Governor's speech. The Deputy Speaker will also be elected on that day.

The name of BJP MLA and former Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary is doing rounds for the post of Speaker.

Also Read: Assam Polls 2021: 'Record run chase' for Minister Phani Bhushan Choudhury