Assam: Four Time MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass Unanimously Re-Elected Assam Assembly Speaker.

Guwahati; May 2026: Four-time BJP MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly today (Thursday – 21st May 2026) creating history by becoming the first person to hold the post for a second term.

Protem Speaker Chandra Mohan Patowary announced Dass’s election in the House, stating that 03 nominations had been filed in his favour and no candidate had contested against him. “As there is no other nomination, I declare Ranjeet Kumar Dass as the Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly” Patowary announced.

Members cutting across party lines congratulated Dass after his election and expressed hope that he would uphold neutrality and democratic values while conducting proceedings in the House. Congratulating Dass, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the development as a historic moment for the Assembly. “I extend my congratulations to you on being elected as the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly. Today, all 126 MLAs took oath and your election as Speaker is a matter of pride for the BJP and the Assembly as a whole”, Sarma said.

Highlighting the significance of the development, the Chief Minister said no individual in the Assembly’s history had earlier occupied the Speaker’s chair for a second term. “In the history of the Assam Legislative Assembly, no one has been able to occupy the Speaker’s chair for a second term. Ranjeet Kumar Dass has achieved that distinction”, he added. Sarma also traced Dass’s professional journey, noting that he hailed from Barpeta, pursued higher studies at Gauhati University and worked in journalism before entering public service and later politics.

According to the Chief Minister, Dass worked with newspapers including Dainik Asom, Ajir Asom, The Assam Tribune and The North East Times before joining the Indian Information Service (IIS) after clearing the UPSC examination in 1996. He later resigned from service in 2005 to join active politics.

Calling him a seasoned politician with administrative and legislative experience, Sarma said the Assembly would benefit from Dass’s ‘wisdom’ as Speaker. He also stressed that the House expected the Speaker to maintain neutrality and ensure equal opportunities for both treasury and opposition benches. “We want a Speaker who will remain neutral, who will allow the opposition to speak and who will work in the interest of Assam because Assam stands above party lines”, the Chief Minister stated.

During his address, Sarma also highlighted what he described as a ‘revolutionary decision’ taken by the Assembly earlier in the day, allowing legislators to take oath in languages not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The decision came after discussions involving AGP president Atul Bora and Protem Speaker Chandra Mohan Patowary following a request by MLA Tonkeswar Rabha to take oath in the Rabha language. “This reflects Assam’s spirit of unity and inclusiveness”, Sarma said.

Leaders from both alliance partners and opposition parties extended support to Dass while underlining the importance of impartiality in the functioning of the Assembly. AGP president Atul Bora assured full cooperation in maintaining the dignity and procedures of the House. Congress MLA Wazed Ali Choudhury congratulated Dass and said the opposition expected him to continue maintaining neutrality while conducting proceedings. Senior Congress legislators Joy Prakash Das and Rekibuddin Ahmed also stressed the need for fairness and balanced handling of disruptions and adjournment motions inside the House.

Following his election, Dass formally assumed charge as Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, marking the beginning of a new legislative term.

Team Maverick.