Speculations rife over new LoP in Odisha Assembly; party to choose, says Mohan Majhi

Political corridors are abuzz over the name of the new Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly after BJP MLA Kusum Tete on Sunday announced that the Party is likely to change the Leader of Opposition before the next Assembly session.

In fact, the Chief Whip of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mohan Majhi announced the development asserting that the change is imminent but it is the party that will make the decision on the name.” Thus ending the rumour mill from churning out names.

As per reports, the Monsoon Session will begin from July 2 and the BJP needs its leader in the House to dominate the ruling BJD in this session which is going to be an unusually long this time. Apart from that, the BJP needs to prepare itself for the 2024 General Elections. Keeping that in mind the party leadership has reportedly decided to replace the current LoP who is suffering from health conditions and cannot do physical activities.

As Pradeepta Naik represented the Western Odisha, it is speculated that the next LoP might be another leader from the same region like Jayanarayan Mishra. Similarly, Deogarh MLA Subash Panigrahi is said to be in the race too.

Jayanarayan Mishra, while speaking to the reporters said, “Our meeting with the Party Chief, JP Nadda was strictly formal and invited him to Odisha. Choosing the LoP is strictly a party affair and the party will decide the best candidate.”

Speaking to the reporters, Majhi said, “The ultimate decision lies with the party. Whoever gets the green signal from the party will be put on the throne.”

BJP MLA, Pradeepta Naik is the current Leader of Opposition. The decision was made to change the leader after his health situation deteriorated owing to which he could not attend the sessions in the House.

“Due to the absence of our leader, we are not getting our due importance in the House. If we don’t have our leader during the coming Monsoon session, we will have problems. We will be facing problems in raising several issues,” said Kusum Tete.

“The Congress party is cashing in on our situation,” she had claimed.

Notably, the number of BJP legislators in the Odisha Legislative Assembly is 22.

The monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly will begin on July 2 and continue till August 4. It will have 24 working days.

State Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari is set to present the full-fledged monsoon for 2022-23 financial year on the first day of the session.