4-time MLA, RSS man Ranjeet Dass elected House speaker; takes oath

Guwahati: Four-time MLA and BJP veteran Ranjeet Kumar Dass was unanimously elected as the speaker of the newly elected assembly on Thursday.


With this, Dass became the first speaker in the Assam assembly to assume the position for a second time.


Three nominations were received supporting Dass, the MLA from Bhowanipur-Sorbhog seat in lower Assam, as the speaker.


With an RSS background, Dass is a former Aasu leader, a former journalist and a former Indian Information Service officer. Dass is also a former state BJP president and had served as a cabinet minister during Himanta Biswa Sarma’s first tenure as CM. Previously, he was the Speaker when the first BJP-led govt was formed in the state in 2016.


On the first day of the opening session of the 16th Assam assembly, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, accompanied by MLAs from both ruling and opposition benches, took Dass to the chair of the speaker.


“I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the Honorable Shri Ranjeet Kumar Dass on being unanimously elected as the 16th Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the temple of democracy. As a dedicated organiser, efficient administrator, journalist, and popular leader, he has made significant contributions to the public life of Assam over a long period,” CM Sarma said.


Born into a commoner’s family in the holy land of Barpeta, Dass has achieved this prestigious position today through his perseverance, ideals, and dedication to work, Sarma said. “Inspired by the ideals of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, he later adopted service to the motherland as the main mantra of his life as a strong worker of BJP,” Sarma added.


He said by becoming the first person to be elected twice as the speaker of the Assam assembly, he has added a glorious chapter to history. “We are confident that his experience, deep political wisdom, and knowledge of parliamentary traditions will bring a new momentum to the functioning of the assembly,” Sarma added.


Sarma hoped that Dass would treat all MLAs equally and give a fair chance to opposition MLAs to speak in the House.


Senior-most MLA in the opposition bench, Wazed Ali Choudhury of Congress, said they hope for an unbiased stance from Dass. “We know you very well. We saw your cooperation as minister earlier. I hope that as the speaker you will give us opportunities in various procedures of the House,” he said.


In his concluding remarks, Dass said he would prefer the word “sabhapati” or “adhyakhya” — literally meaning president or chairperson in English — to the British influenced “speaker”. “Adhyakhya” is also the term used in Assamese to refer to the speaker.