RAIPUR: Senior tribal leader and former minister Ramvichar Netam was sworn in as the Pro-tem Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly ahead of the winter session starting on December 19.
The 61-year-old took the oath in a simple yet dignified ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan on Sunday, administered by Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan, in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma. Netam took the oath in local Chhattisgarhi dialect.
A Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary appointee tasked with conducting the House’s business in the absence of the regular Speaker. Netam secured victory from the Ramanujganj (ST) seat in the 2023 assembly elections by defeating Congress’ Ajay Tirkey with a margin of 29,663 votes. He previously served as a minister twice in the Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and 2008. Former Assembly Speaker Charn Das Mahant, former Chief Ministers Raman Singh and Bhupesh Baghel, and senior leaders were present.
After taking the oath, Netam mentioned that the people of the state anticipated the Protem Speaker to take the oath in Chhattisgarhi. Hence, he chose to do so, expressing their collective dedication to serving Chhattisgarh Mahtari, emphasizing the importance of respecting everyone’s sentiments.
Netam holds the record for being elected as an MLA for five consecutive terms from his constituency. Born on March 1, 1962, in the Sanawal village of Balrampur block in undivided Surguja district, he completed his education at Ambikapur PG College and actively participated in student politics during that period. After finishing his studies, he returned to Sanawal and started working as a schoolteacher. In 1990, he was first elected as a BJP MLA from the Pal Assembly constituency, which is a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Ramvichar Netam was elected as an MLA for the second time in 1993, third time in 1998, fourth time in 2003, and fifth time in 2008.
After the oath ceremony, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers have left for Delhi. The announcement of the cabinet expansion date is expected after meetings with central leaders in Delhi.
Previous Pro-tem Speakers
First Assembly: Mahendra Bahadur Singh
Second Assembly: Rajendra Prasad Shukla
Third Assembly: Bodhram Kanwar
Fourth Assembly: Satya Narayan Sharma
Fifth Assembly: Rampukar Singh
The 61-year-old took the oath in a simple yet dignified ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan on Sunday, administered by Governor Bishwabhushan Harichandan, in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Ministers Arun Sao and Vijay Sharma. Netam took the oath in local Chhattisgarhi dialect.
A Pro-tem Speaker is a temporary appointee tasked with conducting the House’s business in the absence of the regular Speaker. Netam secured victory from the Ramanujganj (ST) seat in the 2023 assembly elections by defeating Congress’ Ajay Tirkey with a margin of 29,663 votes. He previously served as a minister twice in the Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh in 2003 and 2008. Former Assembly Speaker Charn Das Mahant, former Chief Ministers Raman Singh and Bhupesh Baghel, and senior leaders were present.
After taking the oath, Netam mentioned that the people of the state anticipated the Protem Speaker to take the oath in Chhattisgarhi. Hence, he chose to do so, expressing their collective dedication to serving Chhattisgarh Mahtari, emphasizing the importance of respecting everyone’s sentiments.
Netam holds the record for being elected as an MLA for five consecutive terms from his constituency. Born on March 1, 1962, in the Sanawal village of Balrampur block in undivided Surguja district, he completed his education at Ambikapur PG College and actively participated in student politics during that period. After finishing his studies, he returned to Sanawal and started working as a schoolteacher. In 1990, he was first elected as a BJP MLA from the Pal Assembly constituency, which is a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Ramvichar Netam was elected as an MLA for the second time in 1993, third time in 1998, fourth time in 2003, and fifth time in 2008.
After the oath ceremony, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers have left for Delhi. The announcement of the cabinet expansion date is expected after meetings with central leaders in Delhi.
Previous Pro-tem Speakers
First Assembly: Mahendra Bahadur Singh
Second Assembly: Rajendra Prasad Shukla
Third Assembly: Bodhram Kanwar
Fourth Assembly: Satya Narayan Sharma
Fifth Assembly: Rampukar Singh
