BJD's Saluga Pradhan Set to Become new Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA from G Udaygiri, Saluga Pradhan, a noted tribal leader of central Odisha, is all set to become the next Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

The two-time MLA filed his nomination papers for the election to Deputy Speaker on Monday.

“Our party president Naveen Patnaik has chosen me as the candidate for Deputy Speaker. I hope the senior members of the Assembly will cooperate with me in running the House smoothly,” Saluga said while speaking to the reporters.

Earlier this month, Saluga was appointed as Kandhamal district BJD president. Sources said since the district now remains non-represented in the council of ministers, the CM decided to offer a constitutional position to one of the party MLAs. This will, the sources informed, help the party workers to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls under his leadership.

Asked if the BJD eyed to woo tribal voters by nominating him, Saluga said, “That is not true. I have been MLA for two times. I am eligible to be the Deputy Speaker.”

Saluga was elected to the Odisha Assembly three times- in 2000, 2004 and 2019.

The election to the Odisha Deputy Speaker post will be held on November 21, 2023.

The post of Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Assembly has been lying vacant since the resignation of Rajani Kant Singh from the post earlier this month.