Odisha Assembly winter session begins with condolence motion, adjourned till tomorrow

The Winter Session of the 16th Odisha Assembly commenced on Tuesday with the passing of a condolence motion brought by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The motion was brought to condole the passing away of former Speaker Maheswar Mohanty, former Minister Saraswati Pradhan, former ruling party chief whip Ajay Kumar Jena, former MLA Rabi Das, former MLA Judhisthir Samantray, former Lance Havaldar Saroj Kumar Das and former BSF Constable Prakash Chandra Sial.

The condolence motion was supported by Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi and Congress legislative party leader Narasingha Mishra. Mishra used both Odia and Koshali language during his speech to support the motion in the Assembly.

The Assembly was adjourned till tomorrow by Speaker Pramila Mallik after passing of the condolence motion.

The Assembly session today saw Saluga Pradhan becoming the new Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Assembly.

BJD MLA from G Udayagiri, Pradhan was elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker. The position was lying vacant after the resignation of Rajani Kant Singh earlier this month.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhan thanked all the members of the Assembly for electing him as the Deputy Speaker. He termed the Assembly as a temple of democracy and expressed hope that all the members would collectively maintain the dignity of the House.