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Rathindra Bose Elected Unopposed as Speaker of Bengal Assembly

Rathindra Bose, a first-time BJP MLA from Cooch Behar, has been elected unopposed as the Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the live telecast of all House proceedings. Bose is the first legislator from North Bengal to hold the Speaker's position and is a Chartered Accountant by profession. He defeated Trinamool candidate Abhijit De Bhowmik in the 2026 Assembly elections by over 23,000 votes.

Key Points: Rathindra Bose Elected Unopposed as Bengal Assembly Speaker

  • Rathindra Bose elected unopposed as Speaker
  • First-time BJP MLA from Cooch Behar
  • CM Adhikari announces live telecast of House proceedings
  • Bose is first North Bengal legislator to become Speaker
  • He is a Chartered Accountant by profession
2 min read

BJP's Rathindra Bose elected unopposed as Speaker of Bengal Assembly

BJP's Rathindra Bose elected unopposed as Speaker of West Bengal Assembly. CM Suvendu Adhikari announces live telecast of proceedings.

"I wish that for the next five years, this Assembly will be able to work constructively to fulfil the expectations of the people of the state. - Suvendu Adhikari"

Kolkata, May 15

Rathindra Bose, the first-time Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Cooch Behar constituency, on Friday was elected unopposed as the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.

Bose's name was announced as the BJP nominee for the post of Speaker of the House on Thursday by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Since no second name was proposed by any other political party as a contender, Bose was elected unopposed on Friday.

Maintaining the true spirit of Parliamentary democracy, the new Speaker occupied his chair with CM Adhikari on one side and Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, the current Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, on the other side.

His predecessor in the previous Trinamool Congress regime, Biman Bandopadhya, who has been re-elected this time as well, was seen congratulating the new Speaker.

As per protocol, the new Speaker gave CM Adhikari, who is also the Leader of House, the first opportunity to speak on the floor of the House.

Welcoming the new Speaker, the Chief Minister announced that henceforth every proceeding of the House will be telecast live.

"I wish that for the next five years, this Assembly will be able to work constructively to fulfil the expectations of the people of the state. I assure that the opposition will get an opportunity to present its views properly on the floor of the House. At the same time, I also hope that the opposition MLAs will refrain from trying to disrupt the proceedings of the Assembly from the very beginning," said the Chief Minister.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Bose is the first legislator from any Assembly constituency in North Bengal to be the Speaker of the House.

He had been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for a long time. Later, he joined active politics with the BJP.

In the 2026 Assembly elections, he defeated Trinamool candidate Abhijit De Bhowmik from the Cooch Behar South constituency by more than 23,000 votes. With Bose, after a long time, the West Bengal Assembly gets a Speaker who is not from the legal profession.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally some good news from Bengal! The election was conducted smoothly, no violence, no controversy. Bose ji is a fresh face, not a lawyer for a change—that's actually refreshing. But I worry about Suvendu Adhikari's statement about live telecasting proceedings. In the past, live telecast has been used more for political grandstanding than actual accountability. We need substance, not just show. Let the work begin.
V
Vikram M
Honestly, elected 'unopposed' is a big thing in today's politics. No one even bothered to challenge—shows the opposition has either given up or is licking wounds after the massive defeat. Bose being from Cooch Behar (North Bengal) is good representation for that region, which often feels neglected. But being a first-time MLA and Speaker is a huge responsibility. I hope he takes advice from senior officials and doesn't become a rubber stamp for the ruling party.
R
Rohit P
Chalo, at least the transition happened peacefully. Biman Bandopadhya congratulating him is a good sign. But I have my doubts—will the House really function smoothly? When TMC was in power, they didn't allow opposition to speak. Now with BJP in power, will they be any different? The Chief Minister's speech about 'opposition MLAs refraining from disruption' sounds like a threat in disguise. We'll watch closely how the first few sessions go.
S
Sarah B
Interesting development. A first-time MLA as Speaker is rare but not unprecedented. His RSS background might raise some eyebrows about secularism, but if he sticks to parliamentary norms and doesn't favor his party unfairly, he could do well. The live telecast is a double-edged sword—transparency is good, but it often turns into a circus. Let's hope the decorum of the House is maintained.

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