<p>Bhubaneswar: Senior <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bjp">BJP</a> leader Surama Padhy was on Thursday elected unopposed as the Speaker of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha">Odisha</a> Assembly.</p><p>Padhy, a two-time MLA from the Ranpur in Nayagarh district, was the lone candidate for the post. She was elected unopposed as there was no other candidate in the fray.</p><p>Pro-tem Speaker R P Swain announced her election and handed over the charge to her in the special session of the Assembly.</p><p>Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief ministers - KV Singh Deo, Pravati Parida, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik and other members of the House greeted the new Speaker.</p><p>Padhy is the second woman to become Speaker of the Odisha Assembly after Pramila Mallick of BJD.</p>.Odisha govt yet to decide on reopening Ratna Bhandar of Puri temple: Minister.<p>After her election, Padhy said, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to all for electing me as the Speaker of this August House. I hail from a humble family and never thought of occupying such a prestigious post and responsibility. I am overwhelmed. It is our combined responsibility to maintain the dignity of this House. Therefore, I seek your cooperation. I will do my best to maintain neutrality with the cooperation of all."</p><p>The chief minister congratulated the new Speaker and sought the cooperation of all members including those in opposition to cooperate with Padhy for the smooth functioning of the House.</p><p>Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said: "I congratulate you (Padhy) as the speaker of the 17th Assembly. I am sure that during your tenure as Speaker, you will uphold the dignity of this August House. I also hope that the members will cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House."</p>.Odisha Assembly Elections 2024: Five-term CM Naveen Patnaik to be Odisha's new leader of opposition.<p>Congress Legislature Party leader Taraprasad Bahinipati and CPI(M)'s lone MLA Laxman Munda also congratulated Padhy on being elected Speaker of Odisha Assembly.</p><p>Sixty-three year old Padhy this time won the election from Ranpur assembly segment. She defeated Satyanarayan Pradhan of Biju Janata Dal by a margin of 15,544 votes.</p><p>In 2004, Padhy was elected from Ranpur and served as the Cooperation Minister in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD-BJP alliance government.</p><p>In September 2023, senior BJD leader Pramila Mallick created history by becoming the first woman speaker of Odisha Assembly.</p><p>The ruling BJP has 78 MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly.</p>
<p>Bhubaneswar: Senior <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bjp">BJP</a> leader Surama Padhy was on Thursday elected unopposed as the Speaker of the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha">Odisha</a> Assembly.</p><p>Padhy, a two-time MLA from the Ranpur in Nayagarh district, was the lone candidate for the post. She was elected unopposed as there was no other candidate in the fray.</p><p>Pro-tem Speaker R P Swain announced her election and handed over the charge to her in the special session of the Assembly.</p><p>Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy chief ministers - KV Singh Deo, Pravati Parida, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik and other members of the House greeted the new Speaker.</p><p>Padhy is the second woman to become Speaker of the Odisha Assembly after Pramila Mallick of BJD.</p>.Odisha govt yet to decide on reopening Ratna Bhandar of Puri temple: Minister.<p>After her election, Padhy said, "I express my heartfelt gratitude to all for electing me as the Speaker of this August House. I hail from a humble family and never thought of occupying such a prestigious post and responsibility. I am overwhelmed. It is our combined responsibility to maintain the dignity of this House. Therefore, I seek your cooperation. I will do my best to maintain neutrality with the cooperation of all."</p><p>The chief minister congratulated the new Speaker and sought the cooperation of all members including those in opposition to cooperate with Padhy for the smooth functioning of the House.</p><p>Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said: "I congratulate you (Padhy) as the speaker of the 17th Assembly. I am sure that during your tenure as Speaker, you will uphold the dignity of this August House. I also hope that the members will cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House."</p>.Odisha Assembly Elections 2024: Five-term CM Naveen Patnaik to be Odisha's new leader of opposition.<p>Congress Legislature Party leader Taraprasad Bahinipati and CPI(M)'s lone MLA Laxman Munda also congratulated Padhy on being elected Speaker of Odisha Assembly.</p><p>Sixty-three year old Padhy this time won the election from Ranpur assembly segment. She defeated Satyanarayan Pradhan of Biju Janata Dal by a margin of 15,544 votes.</p><p>In 2004, Padhy was elected from Ranpur and served as the Cooperation Minister in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD-BJP alliance government.</p><p>In September 2023, senior BJD leader Pramila Mallick created history by becoming the first woman speaker of Odisha Assembly.</p><p>The ruling BJP has 78 MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly.</p>