Guwahati : The 16th session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will begin on May 21, with the election of a new Speaker and the proposed introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill expected to dominate the four-day sitting.

Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday outlined the schedule of the session, which will continue till May 26, excluding Saturday and Sunday, and indicated that the government was prepared to move ahead with key legislative business, including the much-debated UCC Bill.

“Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Assembly session and the new Speaker of the House will be elected first. Following that, we will move ahead with important legislative matters, including the Uniform Civil Code Bill,” Sarma told reporters.

Reiterating the BJP-led government’s commitment to implementing the UCC, the Chief Minister said the legislation was part of the promises made before the Assembly elections and would now be formally introduced in the House.

“We had made a commitment earlier that once we returned to power, we would bring the Uniform Civil Code in the first Assembly session. We are now moving ahead in that direction and the Bill will be introduced during this session,” he said.

The proposed legislation is expected to trigger intense debate both inside and outside the Assembly.

While the government has maintained that the UCC seeks to establish equal civil laws for all citizens irrespective of religion, Opposition parties and several social organisations have raised concerns over its possible impact on personal laws, customs and community-specific practices.

However, the Chief Minister did not disclose details of the proposed legislation, with the state government yet to make the draft Bill public.

Sarma also expressed confidence about the passage of the Bill, signalling that the government was politically prepared for what is likely to become one of the most closely watched legislative exercises in recent years.

Apart from the UCC Bill, the Assembly session is also expected to provide clarity on a possible expansion of the state cabinet. Hinting at a reshuffle and induction of new ministers, the Chief Minister said the exercise was likely to take place in the first week of June after the conclusion of the Assembly session.

“Regarding cabinet expansion, it is likely to happen in the first week of June after the Assembly session. The process will happen gradually,” he said.

The upcoming session assumes political significance as it marks the first major legislative sitting after the BJP-led alliance returned to power in Assam, with the proposed UCC legislation expected to emerge as the centrepiece of the government’s new term agenda.