Odisha Assembly gets new woman Speaker, Surama Padhy replaces Pramila Mallick

BHUBANESWAR: Former minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Surama Padhy on Thursday elected unopposed as the Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly. She succeeded BJD’s Pramila Mallick as the Speaker of the 17th Assembly.

Padhy had filed her nomination for the post on Wednesday. No other nominations from any other political party were filed.

Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi had proposed the name of Padhy.

The newly elected Speaker has vast experience as a minister in the BJD-BJP coalition government in Odisha from 2004 to 2009.

“I extend my greetings and good wishes to Padhy as she has been elected as the Speaker of the 17th Assembly. I am fully confident that she will maintain the dignity of this sacred House and manage its affairs without any bias. We are all committed to serving the people of Odisha. I hope all of us will extend our cooperation to the Speaker to manage the affairs of the House and maintain its tradition and dignity,” said CM Majhi.

“We congratulate you for being elected as the Speaker of the 17th Odisha Assembly. As a legislator and a Minister, you carry a vast experience which will help you run the house smoothly. I am confident that you will discharge your responsibilities impartially and uphold the dignity of the chair that you have occupied. I extend my heartiest congratulations to you,” said Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.

Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said, “I extend my heartiest congratulations to Surama Padhy for becoming the Speaker of 17th Odisha Assembly. She is a very soft-spoken, affectionate and kind-hearted woman. She was elected as the MLA from Ranpur Assembly constituency in 2004. She has also successfully taken responsibility as the Cooperative Minister of Odisha. Her skills show that she will work as a good Speaker and uphold the dignity of the House.”

Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Legislature Party leader, Naveen Patnaik also congratulated Padhy and said, "I am confident that with your legislative experience, administrative ability as well as with the rapport with the members of the House, you will discharge the responsibilities of the Speaker most effectively. During your tenure as speaker, I am sure that you will uphold the dignity of this august House by impartial and just ruling.”