Senior Biju Janata Dal leader Pramila Mallik was on Friday elected unopposed as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, becoming the first woman to attain the prestigious post. Speaker in-charge Rajanikant Singh announced Mallik’s election as the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Assembly at a special session held before the commencement of the Monsoon Session of the House.
The opposition BJP and Congress did not field any candidate for the election to the Speaker’s post. Leader of the House and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved a motion on Mallik’s installation as the Speaker which was seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari. Later, Patnaik, Opposition BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra and other senior members accompanied Mallik to take the seat as the Speaker of the House. In her first speech in the House, Mallik thanked all the members and sought their cooperation for the smooth functioning of the proceedings. Mallik said she would do her best to maintain the dignity of the House.
Patnaik thanked Mallik for being the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Assembly and expressed his confidence in her ability. She has been a lawmaker, a minister and the government chief whip, Patnaik said, adding that her vast experience would help her perform responsibilities as a Speaker. Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra congratulated Mallik and hoped that she would work in an impartial manner and give protection to the opposition members in the face of “brute” majority of the ruling party in the House.
“I know her since 1990 when both of us were elected to the OLA and seen her performing as a minister and also the government chief whip.