West Bengal Assembly’s Deputy Speaker post remains vacant in the new 18th Legislative Assembly, with no confirmed election schedule currently available. The issue has remained unresolved after the BJP formed the government following the May 2026 change of power and the new Assembly was constituted.
The new Assembly was constituted after the 2026 elections, and BJP MLA Rathindra Basu was elected unopposed as Speaker on May 15, 2026. However, the Deputy Speaker’s post remains vacant.
According to reports citing Assembly Secretariat sources, there is currently no clear initiative at the Assembly level regarding an election for the post. The possibility of an election taking place this year has also been described as low.
There was movement over the post in August, when BJP MLA Biman Ghosh of Pursura was reported to be leading the discussion for the position. A report published on August 18 said the BJP legislative party was moving towards appointing an experienced MLA as Deputy Speaker, with Ghosh’s name at the forefront.
Biman Ghosh’s name emerged prominently in August for the Deputy Speaker’s post. At the time, it was reported that the party could consider him for the responsibility and that preparations were being discussed to appoint an experienced legislator.
However, the election process did not subsequently move forward. As a result, it has not yet been decided when the election for the post will be held.
The report also stated that objections to Ghosh’s name had reportedly emerged within a section of the BJP. The BJP has not officially issued a statement confirming such objections. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the party will continue with Ghosh’s name or consider another MLA for the post.
In the previous Assembly, the Deputy Speaker’s post was held by Trinamool Congress leader Ashis Banerjee. He was elected Deputy Speaker in 2021 and held the position during the previous Assembly’s term. Records list his tenure as Deputy Speaker from July 2, 2021, until May 7, 2026.
The previous Assembly’s term ended in May 2026. With the constitution of the 18th Assembly, a new election is required for the Deputy Speaker’s post.
Rathindra Basu, a BJP MLA from Cooch Behar South, was elected unopposed as Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly on May 15, 2026. The election was conducted under the supervision of Pro-tem Speaker Tapas Roy and the House confirmed Basu’s appointment through a voice vote.
With the Speaker’s post filled, the Deputy Speaker remains the other major presiding office in the Assembly that has not yet been filled. Current public records also list the Deputy Speaker’s position as vacant.
There have been political and administrative discussions over the delay in holding the Deputy Speaker election, but no official reason for postponing the election has been provided in the available information.
According to reports citing Assembly Secretariat sources, the possibility of an election this year appears limited. This leaves the Assembly functioning without an elected Deputy Speaker for the time being.
The exact date of the election has not been announced. A formal decision by the government and the Assembly would be required before the process can proceed.
The status of Biman Ghosh’s candidature also remains unclear. His name was prominently discussed in August, but no formal announcement has been made confirming him as the BJP’s candidate for Deputy Speaker.
Until the BJP formally decides on a candidate and the Assembly initiates the required procedure, no potential candidate can be treated as final.
The Deputy Speaker has an important role in the functioning of the House, particularly when the Speaker is absent. The post is therefore part of the Assembly’s institutional arrangement, although the current Assembly continues to function with the position vacant.
The 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly was formed after the 2026 Assembly elections, while Rathindra Basu took charge as Speaker in May. The Deputy Speaker’s position, however, remains unfilled.
The August discussion around Biman Ghosh did not result in the election process moving forward. With no confirmed election schedule and no official announcement on a candidate, the status of the post remains unresolved.
