Biju Janata Dal MLA from G Udaygiri, Saluga Pradhan is set to become the next Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The two-time MLA filed his nomination papers for the election to Deputy Speaker on Monday.
“Party Supremo Naveen Patnaik has chosen me as BJD’s candidate for Deputy Speaker. I hope the senior members of the Assembly will cooperate with me in running the House smoothly,” Saluga said while speaking to the reporters.
Asked if the BJD eyed to woe tribal voters by nominating him, Saluga said, “That is not true. I have been MLA for two times. I am eligible to be the Deputy Speaker.”
Saluga was elected to the Odisha Assembly three times- in 2000, 2004 and 2019.
The election to the Odisha Deputy Speaker post will be held on November 21, 2023.
It is pertinent to mention here that the post of Deputy Speaker of the Odisha Assembly has been lying vacant since the resignation of Rajani Kant Singh from the post earlier this month.