Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), June 18: The newly elected members of the Odisha Assembly commenced their oath-taking during a special session that commenced on Tuesday. Pro-tem Speaker Ranendra Pratap Swain administered the oath first to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Later, Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also took their oaths. Pro-Tem Speaker Swain further administered the oath to former Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President Naveen Patnaik, who will now serve as opposition leader for the first time in his political career.
All 147 newly elected MLAs are scheduled to take their oaths between June 18 and June 19, with the election for the new Speaker set for June 20. There is speculation that senior BJP leader Surama Padhi may be nominated by the party as its candidate for the Speaker’s position.
In the recent Assembly polls, BJP secured 78 seats, marking an end to the 24-year rule of the BJD in Odisha. BJD won 51 seats, while Congress secured 14, CPI(M) one, and Independents three. In the previous Assembly, BJD held 113 seats.
