The leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party in Orissa, Kishore Kumar Mohanty on Tuesday, August 19, was appointed as the speaker of the state assembly. ‘I will try my best to ensure the smooth functioning of the house, taking the confidence of the members of both the ruling and opposition parties,’ remarked Mohanty.

After the Congress party abstained from voting based on the allegation that the BJD had not consulted it, Kishore Kumar Mohanty was appointed speaker by voice vote. His name was proposed by the ruling coalition on Monday, August 19 for the post. No candidate’s name was put forward by the Congress party.

Maheswar Mohanty resigned from the post of Orissa speaker on March 31 after a female employee of the assembly alleged that he had sexually harassed her. Since then the speaker’s post had been lying vacant.