Odisha Assembly Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh quits

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajanikant Singh on Wednesday resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

“It was a decision which I had been planning for a long as I was not able to take part in organisational activities of the party while remaining on the Constitutional post for the past five years. As elections are around the corner, I have decided to quit to join the party and workers with full strength,” said Singh soon after tendering his resignation.

When asked whether BJD supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik will entrust him with some crucial responsibility in the organisation, Singh said that everything depends on the party chief.

“There is buzz only in media that BJP is rising, but the people of Odisha are with BJD. MLAs have the responsibility to strengthen the party in their respective constituencies. I have resigned to work for the organisation,” Singh added.

Rajanikant is a four-time MLA from Angul since 2004. He was also a minister during the fourth term of the BJD government from 2014 to 2019. Singh was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the 16th Odisha Assembly in April 2021.