Rampada Jamatia set to become Tripura Assembly Speaker unopposed

Senior BJP MLA and tribal leader Rampada Jamatia is set to become the next Speaker of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, likely to be elected unopposed after filing his nomination on Tuesday.

Jamatia submitted his nomination papers before the Assembly Secretary on the third day of the ongoing Budget session, backed by alliance partners of the ruling BJP.

The election for the Speaker’s post is scheduled for March 18 (Wednesday). However, with the opposition refraining from fielding any candidate, Jamatia is expected to be elected unopposed and take oath on the same day.

Confirming his nomination, Jamatia wrote on social media, “I am glad to inform everyone that I have officially submitted my nomination papers to the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly of Tripura for the position of Speaker today.”

The decision to nominate Jamatia was taken during a pre-Assembly meeting of BJP legislators held on March 12 at the official residence of Chief Minister Manik Saha.

Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chowdhury also confirmed that no opposition candidate would contest the election, paving the way for Jamatia’s unopposed victory.

The Speaker’s post had fallen vacant following the demise of senior BJP leader and MLA Biswa Bandhu Sen on December 26 last year.

Jamatia, a former leader of the Jamatia Hoda, will become the second Speaker from the tribal community in Tripura after veteran Communist leader Sudhanva Debbarma.