As scheduled 44 among 60 newly elected MLAs of the state including from ruling BJP, IPFT and opposition CPI (M) and Congress were sworn in on Thursday as members of the Tripura legislative assembly.

Protem speaker Binoy Bhusan Das administered the oath of office and secrecy to all 44 MLAs during a simple oath taking programme held at the lobby of the assembly building and at his office chamber.

Among the 44 MLAs , 31  MLAs of BJP including Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, its ally IPFT's lone member Sukla Charan Noatia, and 11 lawmakers of CPI(M) including its state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury took oath as MLAs.

Two of the three Congress MLAs Birajit Sinha and Gopal Chandra Roy were sworn in, while its other MLA Sudip Barman will take oath on Saturday, as will  13 elected members of Tipra Motha.

The oath taking ceremony started with the oath of 2-Mohanpur MLA and Minister Ratan Lal Nath and one after one Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, other council of ministers and all ruling MLAs took the oath at the lobby of the assembly. Except 4 MLAs, all the legislators took the oath in Bengali, while  MLA Rampada Jamatia took oath in Hindi, Bishwabandhu Sen and Promode Reang in English and lone IPFT MLA Sukla Charan Noatia took oath in Kokborok.

Among the 11 CPI(M) MLAs all MLAs took oath in Bengali, while only Jitendra Chaudhury took his oath in English.

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha through a social media post said that , "With the blessings of the people, today I took oath as a Member of the Tripura Legislative Assembly. I wholeheartedly thank the people of Town Bardowali constituency for giving me this opportunity. I shall perform my duties as an MLA with utmost honesty."

Pradesh Congress president and MLA from Kailashahar assembly seat Birajit Sinha after oath speaking with media persons said that  there is no fixed rule that all MLAs would take the oath in a same day and their another MLA Sudip Roy Barman will take oath next day.

CPI(M) state secretary and MLA from Sabroom assembly constituency Jitendra Chaudhury said that they missed the scheduled time of oath taking as two of their MLAs delayed arrival  in the state capital from Dharmanagar and they all 11 took the oath at the office chamber of Protem speaker.

Chaudhury  also said that  the CPI(M) MLAs will raise issues of public interest in the assembly on behalf of the people and they will continue working for the people so that they are able to exercise the democratic rights ensured by the Constitution. On development and welfare issues, all CPI(M) will be ready to support the treasury bench  if they raise the issues related to people and will also raise issues affecting the people. He also said that  CPI(M) MLAs will also support the Tipra-Motha if they raise issues concerning the people and the state.

Protem Speaker Binoy Bhusan Das said that the first session of the assembly is scheduled to begin on March 24 and elections for the speaker and deputy speaker will be held on the same day.

Sources said that senior BJP leader Ratan Chakraborty, who was the speaker of the previous assembly, is likely to retain the post, while MLA Biswabandhu Sen may be the next deputy speaker.

BJP's strength in the assembly was reduced to 31 from 32 after the resignation of Dhanpur MLA Pratima Bhoumik and the protem speaker was already administered oath by the Governor.