BHUBANESWAR: Nine-time legislator V. Sugnana Kumari Deo was today sworn in as the pro tem Speaker of the new Assembly to be constituted tomorrow. The 72-year-old Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader the first woman to occupy the post was administered oath of office by Governor MC Bhandare at the Raj Bhavan. Besides Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a number of dignitaries including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty were present. After taking oath, Deo said the MLAs should demonstrate good conduct and maintain decorum in the House to be able to enjoy people’s confidence.
Deo will administer oath to the newly-elected members during a two-day session of the Assembly beginning tomorrow. Election for the post of Speaker of the 147-member Assembly is scheduled to be held on May 25.
Deo, who had been elected eight times from Khallikote Assembly seat won the election this time from Kabisuryanagar constituency.
Meanwhile, former MP Rabi Pani is tipped to be the next government chief whip. Pani defeated BJP heavyweight Dharmendra Pradhan from the Pallahara constituency.
The BJD leadership had selected senior MLA Pradip Kumar Maharathi for the post. But he is reported to have declined to take up the assignment. Maharathi was an aspirant for a berth in the ministry. But there is no representation of Puri district in the ministry.
Maharathi met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today at the Naveen Nivas and tried to argue it out. But he failed to convince Naveen.
Senior leader Surendranath Nayak represented Puri district in the previous ministry. However, Nayak who was denied ticket for the Assembly election has been appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board.
Besides, four time legislator from Chikiti Usha Devi is likely to be the next Deputy Speaker. Though it was expected that she would be inducted to the ministry in view of her seniority as a legislator, she could not make it.
The post of deputy chief whip may go to Arun Sahu who was elected from the Nayagarh constituency.