The first session of fifth Jharkhand Legislative Assembly began on Monday with 78 legislators taking oath in 11 different languages. Pro tem Speaker Stephen Marandi administered the oath to the newly elected MLAs, while Chief Minister Hemant Soren took oath as Barhait legislator leaving Dumka constituency for a bypoll within the next six months.
Although most of the legislators, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, ministers Alamgir Alam, Rameshwar Oraon and Satyanand Bhokta took oath in Hindi, there were several other MLAs like Rajmahal MLA Anant Ojha, Bokaro MLA Biranchi Narayan, Madhupur MLA Haji Hussain Ansari who took oath in different languages.
Ojha took oath in Sanskrit, while Ansari took oath in Urdu. Narayan Das and Amit Mandal took oath in Angika, while Amar Kumar Bauri and Bhushan Tirkey took oath in Bangla and Mundari respectively. There were others who used Oraon, Santhali, Khortha, Maithili and Ho languages.
Notably, the in the 81 member House 78 members took oath as Chief Minister Hemant Soren took oath from only one constituency, Bahragora MLA Sameer Mohanty was absent from the House and Pro tem Speaker of the House had already taken oath of office and secrecy.
Brimming with confidence several first time MLAs and women legislators touched the floor of the house in traditional way paying respect to the Constitutional body and hoped that they would contribute positively towards development and betterment of the State in all possible way.
Coming out of the House after end of first day of the session Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed greetings of the New Year to people of the State.
“We took oath today as per Constitutional process. After the end of this Session the government machinery will run with full speed to catapult the State to new heights of development. I thank all legislators and people of the State on this occasion,” said the CM.
“I contested from two constituencies (Dumka and Barhait) and people from both constituencies gave me love and respect. I want to express gratitude to people of both constituencies. Since I had to leave one seat as per provisions, I chose Sido Kanho’s birthplace and martyrdom place Bhognadih Barhit and left Dumka constituency, which we will take along with us in coming times,” he said.
The CM said that he would soon reveal about Cabinet expansion and giving representation to the Anglo-Indian community in the House.
Meanwhile, independent MLA Saryu Roy, who defeated former CM Raghubar Das in the latter’s constituency after he was ignored by BJP in ticket distribution, said that he would continue to remain an independent MLA in the House bringing people’s issues to the notice of the government.
On the second day of the three-day session, the House will elect its Speaker and the government will present second supplementary budget after Governor’s speech.