BJD MLA Saluga Pradhan Clinches Unopposed Victory as Deputy Speaker in Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Nov 21: In a seamless electoral process, G Udaygiri BJD MLA Saluga Pradhan has been elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The announcement came on the inaugural day of the Winter session, infusing a positive start to the assembly proceedings.

The nomination was set into motion by a motion presented by Leader of the House, Naveen Patnaik, proposing Saluga Pradhan as the Deputy Speaker. The proposal garnered swift support from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari, setting the stage for a unanimous election. Speaker Pramila Mallik, after the motion and support, formally declared Saluga Pradhan as the Deputy Speaker.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended his congratulations to Pradhan on this accomplishment. Patnaik urged all members of the house to wholeheartedly support and cooperate with the newly elected Deputy Speaker in fulfilling his responsibilities.

Expressing gratitude to the Assembly members, Pradhan acknowledged their trust and confidence in him. He emphasized the collective responsibility of maintaining the dignity of the House, highlighting the importance of unity in the legislative process.

Notably, Saluga Pradhan had filed his nomination unopposed on Monday, paving the way for a smooth election process. The Deputy Speaker position had remained vacant since November 8, following the resignation of Deputy Speaker Rajani Kanta Singh.

Saluga Pradhan’s election as the Deputy Speaker sets a positive tone for the Winter session, fostering expectations of collaborative and effective legislative proceedings under his guidance.