Indus Valley Times

Once elected, Ms Mallick will be first women Speaker of Odisha Assembly

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 20: As the Lok Sabha on Wednesday remained busy in deliberation and passing of ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ Bill, 2023 to grant 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik sprang a surprise by nominating his party’s senior leader Pramila Mallick as the new Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Ms Mallick, a six-time MLA from Binjharpur, is currently a minister in the Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet with revenue and disaster management portfolio. She will file her nomination on Friday morning. On the same day, the election will take place by 9 am following which the first day business of the monsoon session of the Assembly will begin.

Pramila will be the first women speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly.

“I’m quite happy that CM Naveen Patnaik has reposed faith in me. I’ll try to live up to his expectation. Besides, I’ll try to ensure that members belonging to all political parties get equal opportunities in the House to participate in the legislative businesses,” she said soon after her name was announced by the party in the evening.

The women lawmaker thanked CM Naveen Patnaik for giving her important assignments at different points of time.

“I have handled ministerial responsibilities for many years. Besides, I have headed the women wing of my party for several years under his guidance. I’m really grateful to him for his continuous support and encouragement,” she said.

Pramila Mallick belongs to scheduled caste (SC) community. According to political analysts, the Odisha CM chose her over a few other experienced lawmakers to send out a message to other political parties about what his party leaders claimed that BJD always gave more importance for socio-economic and political empowerment of women.