Pramila Mallick becomes first woman Speaker of Odisha Assembly

By Chitta Ranjan Beura

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and six-time MLA from Binjharpur, Pramila Mallick, was on Friday elected unopposed as the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Soon after she was declared elected for the Speaker’s post, Pramila conducted the first business of the monsoon session of the Assembly.

“I’m quite happy to be elected as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. I’ll try to live up to his expectations. Besides, I’ll try to ensure that members belonging to all political parties get equal opportunities in the House,” she said soon after her election for the top constitutional position.

Pramila belongs to the scheduled caste (SC) community.

 According to political analysts, the Odisha CM chose her over a few other experienced lawmakers to send out a message to other political parties about what his party leaders claimed that BJD always gave more importance for socio-economic and political empowerment of women.