Bhubaneswar, June 20: Surama Padhy, a two-time MLA from Ranpur representing the BJP, was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Padhy was elected unopposed, as no other nominations were filed from any political party. She becomes the second woman to hold the Speaker post in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, following Pramila Mallik.

Padhy filed her nomination for the prestigious position on Wednesday, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers K V Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, and other BJP MLAs present.

Reportedly, Chief Minister Majhi had secured support for Padhy's candidacy from BJD president Naveen Patnaik. Pramila Mallik had previously made history as the first woman Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in September 2023.

Padhy first won a seat in the Odisha Assembly from Ranpur in Nayagarh district on a BJP ticket in 2004 and served as a minister of state in the BJD-BJP coalition government from 2004 to 2009.

This election cycle, the BJP formed the government independently in Odisha, winning 78 out of 147 seats in the Assembly.

Powered by Froala Editor