Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly opened its winter session on Thursday after formally expressing condolences for several recently deceased leaders.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi introduced the condolence resolution on the opening day of the fifth session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.
The Assembly paid tribute to three‑time legislator Hemendra Prasad Mahapatra, who had secured the Bonai seat in Sundargarh in 1961, 1967, and 1971, and to veteran Congress stalwart Krushna Chandra Mallik, who represented Jagatsinghpur as MLA from 1980 to 1985.
Honors were also extended to Chief Constable Saroj Kumar Pradhan of the Odisha Police, who lost his life in the line of duty.
In his remarks, Chief Minister Majhi highlighted that both Mahapatra and Mallik had consistently championed the rights of Dalits and other marginalized communities.
The Union Opposition leader Naveen Patnaik, Congress Legislative Party head Rama Chandra Kadam, and several other MPs endorsed the condolence motion.
All members shared their sorrow and urged Speaker Surama Padhy to forward the Assembly’s sympathies to the families of the departed leaders and the constable.
Speaker Padhy, in turn, joined the discussion, offering heartfelt eulogies for the deceased assembly members and the former police officer, and promised that the House’s condolences would be formally communicated to the bereaved families.
Following a moment of silence, the Speaker adjourned the session until 4:30 p.m., announcing that President Droupadi Murmu would speak to the Assembly at that time.
The President is slated to inaugurate the newly built Kalinga Guest House before addressing the assembly from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The fifth session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly is set to run for 29 working days, finishing on December 31.
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