Surama Padhy Set to Become Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly

Surama Padhy, a two-time BJP MLA representing Ranpur, is set to become the speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The BJP announced her candidacy for the speaker position on Wednesday. Notably, the BJD has chosen not to field a candidate, ensuring Padhy’s unopposed election scheduled for Thursday.Following Padhy’s nomination, parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling stated, “No other party has filed a nomination. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi sought and received support from BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik for Padhy’s candidacy.”Padhy, 63, one of the five female BJP MLAs, previously served as the minister of state for cooperation during the BJP-BJD coalition government from 2004 to 2009. She also held the position of national president of BJP Mahila Morcha from 2000 to 2002 and led the state unit of the Morcha from 1998 to 2000. Despite losing the assembly elections in 2009, 2014, and 2019, she recently won against Satyanarayan Pradhan of BJD with a margin of 15,544 votes.A prominent figure in the state BJP, Padhy has been actively involved with the party since joining in 1988. Her nomination papers were endorsed by CM Mohan Majhi and supported by the parliamentary affairs minister. The BJP legislature party has approved her elevation to the speaker position.