BJD names Pramila Mallik as Odisha Assembly Speaker candidate

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday named senior leader and Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik as its candidate for the Speaker post of the Odisha Assembly. The Speaker’s election is scheduled to be held on September 22.

Earlier, speculations were rife that the ruling BJD, which has a majority in the House, would field a woman candidate for the Speaker’s post. If elected, Pramila Mallik will be the first woman Speaker of Odisha Assembly.

Senior BJD leader and MLA from Binjharpur Assembly constituency, Pramila Mallik is a six-time MLA. She also held several key posts as minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet.

“I am grateful to CM Naveen Patnaik for reposing faith in me and selecting me for the top post. I will ensure that the Assembly functions in an impartial manner,” said Malik.

“It is a top position and I will try to discharge my duties by taking everybody together. The vision of the CM is to give prominence to women and he demanded 33 percent reservation for women. After 5 years, the Centre tabled the Women’s Reservation Bill,” said Malik.

Malik further said “By making me the Speaker candidate, CM has proved that women are capable of doing everything.”