Speaker quits ahead of likely reshuffle

I have decided to spend more time with the people of my constituency and therefore resigned from the post of speaker.

Odisha speaker Niranjan Pujari resigned from the post on Friday ahead of a possible reshuffle of Naveen Patnaik’s council of ministers. “I hereby tender my resignation from the office of the speaker, Odisha legislative assembly with effect from today,” Pujari said in a letter submitted to deputy speaker Sananda Marndi.

Asked the reason for his sudden resignation, Pujari told newsmen, “I have decided to spend more time with the people of my constituency and therefore resigned from the post of speaker.”

He declined to comment on whether he took the decision due to pressure from anyone. Marndi said he has received Pujari’s resignation but refused to say more.

It is understood that Pujari is likely to be inducted in the council of ministers in the proposed reshuffle.

The countdown for the big exercise appeared to have started with chief minister Patnaik hinting at an early reshuffle of his three-year-old ministry.

Sources said the parliamentary affairs department has already informed the Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony.

“You will know it (ministry reshuffle) very soon. Be patient and wait,” Patnaik told reporters earlier in the day on questions about the reshuffle.