Guwahati: The 16th session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will begin on May 21, marking the first Assembly session after the formation of the new state government.
Preparations for the session are underway, with several important matters expected to be taken up, including the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected MLAs, election of the Speaker, the Governor’s address, and discussions surrounding the possible introduction of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.
Speaking to the media, Assam Assembly Secretary Dulal Pegu clarified that there is no mandatory constitutional provision regarding the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition.
He said that earlier there was a belief that a party needed at least 21 MLAs in the 126-member Assembly to claim the post. However, after a review in 2001, the norm shifted to one-tenth of the total strength of the House, which comes to 13 MLAs in Assam’s Assembly.
Dulal Pegu stated that even this is not a binding rule and that the Speaker has discretionary powers to decide whether to grant recognition to a Leader of the Opposition.
The issue has gained attention as the Indian National Congress won 13 seats in the recently concluded Assembly elections, making it eligible to stake claim for the Opposition Leader’s post.
Senior MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary has been appointed as the Protem Speaker for the first day of the session after approval from the Governor. He will administer the oath to all 126 newly elected MLAs.
Following the oath-taking ceremony, the election of the Assembly Speaker will take place. On the second day, the session will formally proceed with the Governor’s address, followed by a motion of thanks.
The possible introduction of the Uniform Civil Code Bill has also become a major political talking point ahead of the session. However, Assembly Secretary Dulal Pegu said that no official UCC Bill or related document has yet been submitted to the Assembly Secretariat.
Meanwhile, accommodation arrangements for newly elected MLAs have also emerged as an issue. Out of 64 MLA quarters available, 34 are already occupied by re-elected legislators, leaving accommodation for only around 30 new MLAs.
As a result, nearly 45 to 47 MLAs may have to arrange private accommodation outside the Assembly quarters. The Assembly Secretariat stated that such MLAs will receive a monthly house rent allowance of ₹60,000.
The Secretary also said that additional quarters may become available later if accommodations under the General Administration Department (GAD) and ministers are vacated.
With issues such as the Opposition Leader’s appointment, the possible UCC Bill, and the beginning of the new government’s legislative agenda, political activity around the upcoming Assembly session has intensified across Assam.
