BJP leader Surama Padi elected as Odisha Assembly Speaker

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Surama Padhi was elected unopposed as Speaker of the Odisha Assembly on June 20.

Padhi, a two-time MLA from Rampur in Nayagarh district, was the only candidate for the post and won unopposed as there were no other candidates.

Pro tempore Chairman RP Swain announced her election at a special meeting of the council and handed her over the duties.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik and other Congress members greeted the new Speaker.

Padhi is the second woman to become the Odisha Assembly Speaker after BJD’s Pramila Malick.

After his election, Paddy said: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for electing me as Speaker of this great Parliament. I come from a humble background and never expected to take on such an honourable position and responsibility. I am overwhelmed. It is the responsibility of all of us to maintain the dignity of Parliament. So, I ask for your cooperation. With your help, I will do my best to remain neutral.”

The Prime Minister congratulated the new Speaker and called on all Members, including Opposition Members, to work with Paddy to ensure the smooth running of Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik said, “I congratulate Padhi on taking over as the Speaker of the 17th Assembly. I am confident that he will maintain the dignity of this great Assembly during his term as Speaker. I also urge all Members to cooperate in ensuring the smooth running of the Assembly.”

Indian National Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati and Communist Party of India’s (M) sole state legislator Lakshman Munda also congratulated Padi on being elected as the Speaker of the Odisha Assembly.

Padhi, 63, won the election from Rampur Assembly constituency this time. She defeated Biju Janata Dal’s Sathyanarayan Pradhan by a margin of 15,544 votes.

In 2004, she was elected from Rampur and served as Cooperation Minister in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD-BJP coalition government.

In September 2023, senior BJD leader Pramila Malick created history by becoming the first woman speaker of the Odisha Assembly.

The ruling BJP has 78 members in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.