Bhubaneswar: A day after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his 20-member Council of Ministers were sworn in, as many as 106 newly elected MLAs including Naveen took oath Thursday. Naveen has been elected from two seats –Bijepur and Hinjili – this time.
Senior Biju Janata Dal legislator and the pro-tem Speaker Amar Prasad Satpathy administered oath of office to the members in the House. Satpathy was sworn-in as the pro-tem speaker in the presence of Chief Minister Patnaik during the oath taking ceremony Wednesday. He was the government Chief Whip in the last (15th) Assembly.
After Naveen, Bhanjanagar MLA Bikram Keshari Arukh, Nayagarh legislator Arun Sahoo and Bangiriposhi MLA Sudam Marndi took oath. The oath taking ceremony will continue till 5 pm Friday.
Altogether, 106 MLAs including 91 from BJD, seven each from Congress and BJP and an independent have sworn in Thursday. Remaining 39 MLAs will take oath Friday. Out of 147 seats, election was held for 146 seats and Naveen elected from two seats. Therefore, the total member in the House is 145.
Sharing her experience, first time MLA from Kabisuryanagar, Latika Pradhan said, “It is like a dream come true for me. After a long wait, I put my feet in this august House.
I will work hard to expedite the development work of state government in my constituency.”
Bhubaneswar-North legislator Susant Kumar Rout thanked people of his constituency for electing him to the House. Rout said he will focus on water supply and development of slum dwellers.
The ruling BJD has nominated senior party leader Surjya Narayan Patro for the post of Speaker. As the party has a majority in the House, he will be elected by the members of Assembly June 1.
