Assam Assembly’s seniormost legislator Chandra Mohan Patowary was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on Friday. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan.

In a post on X, the Governor noted, “I administered the oath of office as the Pro-tem Speaker of the newly constituted 16th Assam Legislative Assembly to Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary. I am confident that drawing upon his vast experience and commitment to democratic values, the initial proceedings of the Assembly will be conducted with complete constitutional dignity.”

Patowary, a seventh-time MLA and former cabinet minister, expressed his gratitude on social media, stating he was honoured to assume the role. First elected from Dharmapur in 1985 as an Asom Gana Parishad candidate, he represented the constituency six times, including twice as a BJP legislator since 2016. Following the 2023 delimitation, he contested and won from the newly created Tihu constituency.

As pro-tem Speaker, Patowary will oversee the swearing-in of newly elected MLAs during the Assembly’s first session beginning May 21. The four-day session will continue until May 26, with legislators taking oath on the opening day. He will preside over proceedings until the election of a new Speaker.

The NDA has announced senior BJP leader and former minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass as its candidate for the Speaker’s post. Dass previously held the position when the BJP-led government first came to power in Assam in 2016.

The NDA secured a third consecutive term in the recently concluded Assembly elections, winning a two-thirds majority. The BJP claimed 82 seats, while allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front won 10 seats each in the 126-member House.