Itanagar: With the conclusion of both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, and the BJP achieving a landslide victory in Arunachal Pradesh, attention now shifts to when the new government will stake its claim.
A crucial question that arises is who will be the Pro-Tem Speaker of the 8th Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly?
The term “Pro-Tem” is Latin for “for the time being.” The Pro-Tem Speaker is a temporary speaker appointed for a limited period, responsible for administering the oath to the newly elected legislators of the State Legislative Assembly when the new House convenes.
By established convention, the senior most MLA is usually appointed as the Pro-Tem Speaker. In 2019, the late senior BJP MLA from Changlang South, Phosum Khimhun, was sworn in as the Pro-Tem Speaker of the seventh legislative assembly. The recommendation for the Pro-Tem Speaker is usually sent from the incumbent Chief Minister and Speaker to the Governor.
This time, senior BJP leaders such as Kamlung Mossang, Alo Libang, Taniya Soki, Ninong Ering, and Wangling Lowangdong are among the contenders.
Governor K T Parniak will appoint and swear in the Pro-Tem Speaker, who will then administer the oath of office to all newly elected MLAs of the 8th Legislative Assembly.
Following this, the majority party members will elect one member among themselves as their leader, who will be appointed as the Chief Minister of the state by the Governor.
The Chief Minister then will select ministers from among the party MLAs. Together, they form the Cabinet (or ministry) or the government. The Cabinet is responsible for implementing laws, development plans, and preparing and passing new laws and welfare schemes in the Assembly.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Arunachal Pradesh secured a landslide victory in the assembly polls on Sunday, winning 46 out of the total 60 seats.
Present Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who has led the state since 2016, is anticipated to continue in his role for another term. His leadership has been marked by significant development initiatives and efforts to bring stability and growth to the region, though much remains to be done.
As the BJP prepares for another term under Khandu’s leadership, the focus will be on fulfilling campaign promises and continuing the momentum of growth and development in Arunachal Pradesh.
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