AGARTALA, March 18 -- Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister Rampada Jamatia was elected as the Tripura assembly speaker on Wednesday.

A two-time MLA from the Bagma (ST) constituency, Jamatia is the second indigenous leader to hold the speaker's post in Tripura after Left Front veteran Sudhanya Debbarma in 1978.

The ruling BJP-led NDA proposed Jamatia's name on March 13, the first day of the session. With no other nominations filed, acting speaker Ramprasad Paul officially declared him elected unopposed.

Congratulating the new speaker, chief minister Manik Saha said, "I am confident that his extensive political experience, wisdom, and integrity will uphold the dignity of the House and strengthen its proceedings....