The first session of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly commenced today with a focus on constitutional tradition and linguistic inclusivity, marking a significant beginning for the newly elected representatives of the state. Pro-tem Speaker Chandra Mohan Patowary chaired the House and administered the oath of office to the newly elected members. In a landmark move towards inclusivity, the Assembly allowed tribal MLAs to take oath in their mother tongues following a formal request by the Chief Minister to honour the state’s diverse linguistic heritage. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was the first to take oath, followed by the cabinet ministers, Ajanta Neog, Rameswar Teli, Charan Bodo and Atul Bora. Minister Charan Bodo took oath in the Bodo language, while senior leader Biswajit Daimary took the oath in Sanskrit. Members belonging to the Karbi and Koch-Rajbongshi communities were also permitted to use their respective languages, provided they submit a written transcript of the oath to the Speaker’s office in advance. Later, NDA candidate from BJP Ranjit Kr. Das was elected as the Speaker of the house unopposed. The session will continue till May 26, and Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya is scheduled to address the Assembly tomorrow.
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