Kolkata, 13 May (H.S.) : A total of 144 newly elected MLAs took oath on the first day of the swearing-in ceremony in the West Bengal Assembly on Wednesday.

Protem Speaker Tapas Roy informed that the remaining 146 legislators will take oath on Thursday, May 14. He said that although 150 MLAs were scheduled to be sworn in on Wednesday, six could not attend due to various reasons.

Addressing reporters, Roy said MLAs from 12 districts took oath on the first day, including nine districts of North Bengal and Murshidabad.

He added that legislators from Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Medinipur, East and West Bardhaman, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, and Birbhum districts, along with those who could not attend on Wednesday, would take oath on Thursday.

The Protem Speaker also announced that the election for the post of Assembly Speaker will be held on Friday.

In a notable development, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also took oath on Wednesday as the MLA from Bhawanipur and announced that he would vacate the Nandigram seat.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh