Assam tables bill to protect CM’s political aides from disqualification as MLAs | Guwahati News

Guwahati: The first day of the budget session of the 16th Assam legislative assembly began on Monday with the govt tabling a bill that proposed to debar MLAs appointed as political advisers and secretaries to the chief minister from disqualification for holding an additional office of profit.Parliamentary affairs minister Pijush Hazarika introduced “The Assam State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualifications) (Amendment) Bill, 2026” in the House.The bill’s ‘Statement of Objects and Reasons’ cites Article 191(1)(a) of the Constitution, which disqualifies a person from being chosen as, or for being, a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) if he holds any office of profit under the govt, unless the office is declared by law not to disqualify its holder.“The govt of Assam considered it necessary in public interest to declare the office of the political secretary to the chief minister, Assam, and the office of the political adviser to the chief minister, Assam, as offices which shall not disqualify their holders for being chosen as, or for being, members of the Assam legislative assembly,” the Statement stated.The Statement also said the governor promulgated the Assam State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualifications) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 on June 9 as the House was not in session and “the circumstances existed rendered it necessary to take immediate action.”“It is now proposed to replace the said ordinance by an act of the state legislature,” the statement stated.BJP MLAs Taranga Gogoi and Krishna Kamal Tanti were appointed as political secretaries to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in June.Separately, first-time BJP MLA Habbey Teron from the newly formed Amri constituency was unanimously elected as the deputy speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday.Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass said three nominations were filed in Teron’s favour and no one contested him. “As there is no other nomination, I declare Habbey Teron as the deputy speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly,” he added.