Bhubaneswar: BJD MLA Bikram Keshari Arukha, who resigned from Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet on June 4, was unanimously elected Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik proposed Arukha’s name, which was endorsed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari during the one-day session of the Assembly, which was specifically called for the election of a new Speaker. Twenty ministers in Naveen’s council, including Arukha as well as Speaker of the Assembly SN Patro, had stepped down on June 5, a day before Naveen’s council was reshuffled.
“I am thankful to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for reposing faith in me and all party MLAs for unanimously electing me,” he said. I will work hard to maintain the dignity of the office and the House. I hope all the members will cooperate in maintaining the dignity of the House.
Making a statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister thanked the MLAs for unanimously choosing Arukha as Speaker and congratulated them on their election. Naveen said, “I request all the honorable members to extend their wholehearted support and cooperation to the honorable Speaker in the discharge of his duties.”
Chief Whip of the Opposition and BJP MLA Mohan Manjhi congratulated the Speaker and expressed hope that he would be impartial in the discharge of his duty. Congress Legislature Party leader Narsingh Mishra and CPI(M) leader Laxman Munda also spoke in the House and congratulated Arukha on being elected Speaker and expected fairness from her.
Starting her political career as a student leader, 60-year-old Arukha, a postgraduate, has been winning consecutively from the Bhanjnagar assembly seat in Ganjam district since 1995, first as a Janata Dal MLA and then as a BJD since 2000. as a candidate. As a minister he was holding the portfolios of Parliamentary Affairs and Forest and Environment from 2019 till his resignation earlier this month.
He also served as a minister in Naveen’s earlier tenure and previously held important portfolios such as rural development, law, information and public relations.
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