Rathindra Bose Elected Unopposed WB Assembly Speaker

Rathindra Bose, a first-time legislator from Cooch Behar Dakshin, was elected unopposed on Friday as Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly, marking the first time a representative from north Bengal has held the position since India's independence.

The election took place in the 294-member assembly, where the Bharatiya Janata Party holds a commanding majority of 207 seats following its victory in the recent state polls. Pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy conducted a voice vote after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari proposed Bose's name. All BJP legislators supported the nomination, securing his immediate elevation to the chair.

The BJP announced Bose as its candidate on Thursday, with Adhikari stating in a social media post, "The BJP MLA from the Cooch Behar Dakshin Assembly Constituency, the honourable Mr. Rathindra Bose, has been nominated as the candidate for the position of Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly. I firmly believe that he will be unanimously elected as the Honourable Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly."

The opposition All India Trinamool Congress opted not to field a contender, paving the way for a uncontested outcome. Bose filed...