Ramvichar Netam, a veteran BJP legislator, sworn in as Chhattisgarh’s Pro-tem Speaker, Raman Singh submits nomination for Speaker post of Assembly

Raipur Ramvichar Netam, a veteran BJP legislator, has been sworn in as Chhattisgarh’s Pro-tem Speaker at Raj Bhavan, taking the oath in the Chhattisgarhi language. Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan administered the oath in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma, Arun Sao, BJP legislators, and Raj Bhavan officials. Netam, elected for the fifth consecutive time from Ramanujganj Assembly constituency, emphasized fulfilling the public expectation by taking the oath in Chhattisgarhi. He highlighted their collective commitment to serve Chhattisgarh and respect everyone’s sentiments. A former teacher actively involved in student politics, Netam entered politics in 1990 as a BJP MLA and holds the record for being elected five times consecutively. He will administer oaths to newly elected legislators, and the cabinet expansion under CM Vishnudev Sai’s government might precede the Assembly’s winter session. Netam is speculated to secure a place in the cabinet, alongside other potential candidates. His extensive political career spans various ministerial roles, both at the state and national levels. The Pro-tem Speaker, a temporary position, oversees the oath-taking ceremony for newly elected legislators post-Assembly elections.

The selection of the Pro-tem Speaker typically relies on the Assembly Secretariat’s recommendation of the senior-most legislators to the Governor, who most often appoints the most senior legislator for the role. In the absence of explicit constitutional guidelines, the Pro-tem Speaker primarily conducts the oath ceremony and facilitates the initial proceedings until the Speaker’s election. Meanwhile, former chief minister Dr Raman Singh has submitted his nomination for the position of Speaker of the House on Sunday.