BJP leader Prem Kumar unanimously elected Speaker of Bihar assembly

Veteran BJP leader Prem Kumar, a nine-term MLA from Gaya Town and one of Bihar’s most experienced legislators, was on Tuesday unanimously elected Speaker of the Bihar assembly.

Pro-tem Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav informed the House that Kumar was the sole nominee for the post, following which he was declared elected through a voice vote. Kumar, who has represented Gaya Town continuously since 1990, carries the rare distinction of winning his seat for a record eighth consecutive time, a feat that underscores his strong personal connect with voters, administrative experience and long-standing influence in Bihar’s politics.

As per convention, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav escorted the 74-year-old leader to the Chair. The chief minister asked all members to rise to greet the newly elected Speaker, briefly admonishing some opposition members who remained seated. Yadav, in his congratulatory remarks, noted that the Speaker hailed from a constituency that hosts important pilgrim sites linked to Lord Vishnu and Lord Buddha. Stressing the importance of legislative neutrality, he said, “The opposition serves as a mirror to the government. We expect you to involve us more than the ruling side.”

Prem Kumar, who has held portfolios including Agriculture, Urban Development, Public Health Engineering and Environment in previous governments, thanked members for their trust and sought their cooperation. Before adjourning the House, he underlined the need for electing a Deputy Speaker for smooth functioning, adding that the election would be held on December 4.

Earlier, the House administered oaths to members who could not be sworn in on Monday. Among them was Bhojpuri singer-turned-politician Vinay Bihari, a BJP MLA from Lauria, who requested to take his oath in his mother tongue. The pro-tem Speaker declined, citing Assembly rules that allow oath-taking only in Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit or Maithili. The episode underscored ongoing debates around linguistic recognition in Bihar, where widely spoken languages like Bhojpuri have yet to gain official status despite strong cultural identity.