The 16th session of the Assam Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on May 21, with the election of a new Speaker and the proposed introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill expected to dominate the four-day proceedings.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced the agenda for the session, which will continue till May 26, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
Addressing reporters ahead of the session, the Chief Minister said the House would first elect a new Speaker before taking up key legislative matters, including the much-anticipated UCC Bill.
Sarma said the BJP-led government is moving forward with its earlier commitment to introduce the Uniform Civil Code after returning to power in the state. According to him, the Bill is expected to be formally tabled during the current Assembly session.
The proposed legislation is likely to spark intense political debate inside the Assembly as well as across the state. While the government has maintained that the UCC is aimed at ensuring equal civil laws for all citizens regardless of religion, Opposition parties and several organisations have raised concerns over its possible impact on personal laws, traditions and community-specific customs.
The state government, however, has not yet made the draft Bill public, and the Chief Minister refrained from disclosing details about its provisions.
Despite the expected opposition, Sarma expressed confidence that the government is prepared to move ahead with the legislation, making it one of the most closely watched developments in Assam politics in recent years.
Apart from the UCC Bill, the Assembly session is also expected to pave the way for a cabinet expansion. Hinting at a possible reshuffle, the Chief Minister said new ministers are likely to be inducted in the first week of June after the Assembly proceedings conclude.
“The process will happen gradually,” Sarma said while speaking about the anticipated cabinet expansion.
The upcoming Assembly session holds significance as it is the first major legislative sitting after the BJP-led alliance returned to power in Assam.
