On June 17, the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his deputy Chief Ministers – K.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Parida – as well as BJD president Naveen Patnaik.
The pro-tem speaker Ranenda Pratap Swain had to administer an oath before duly elected MLAs could start taking their seats in the house. The newly elected legislators will take oath until June 19, while election for the Speaker is slated for June 20.
Chief Minister of Odisha Mohan Charan Majhi, State Deputy Chief Ministers K.V. Singh Deo and Pravati Parida are seen here in a photo shoot after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi where they were sworn in as members of the state legislative assembly during a three-day Special Session, at Bhubaneswar on June 18, 2024.
Once they arrive at the Assembly House, like any other newly-elected MLAs, Mr. Majhi and other Members paid floral tribute at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
While Mr. Majhi will be leading in office, it is expected that Mr. Naveen Patnaik of BJD will become LoP (Leader of Opposition) by general consensus.
In this just concluded Assembly elections BJP secured majority with winning 78 Assembly seats followed by BJD (51), Congress (14), CPIM (1) and Independents (3). Out of total strength of the Odisha Assembly which is made up of 147 Members, there are around eighty-two first time MLAs.
