Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Orissa

Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Orissa presides over the sessions of the assembly. He is vested with the power to coordinate the parliamentary proceedings. The speaker of the legislative assembly of Orissa is elected for a term of five years unless his office is terminated prior to the completion of his term.

Late Mukunda Prasad Das was chosen as the speaker of the first legislative assembly of Orissa. He was succeeded by Late Lal Mohan Patnaik who was elected in the parliamentary session of 1952. The present speaker of Legislative Assembly of Orissa is Shri Maheswar Mohanty who was sworn to office of the speaker on 21st may,2004. He succeeded Shri Sarat Kumar Kar.

The speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Orissa is entrusted with the full authority of conducting the proceedings of the assembly. The speaker chooses when a member of the house shall present his speech. He allots the time for every member of the assembly to speak. The speaker maintains discipline in the house and suspends the assembly if the members fail to observe discipline while the house is on session. The speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Orissa also sphere heads the committees of the assembly.

In the absence of the speaker, the deputy speaker conducts the proceedings of the assembly. The speaker and his deputy play a pivotal role in the legislature of Orissa.