The nomination of Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik for the Speaker’s post by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik may be perceived as a symbolic gesture amid the parliamentary debate on the women’s reservation Bill, but the veteran Chief Minister has been consistently nurturing his core vote bank – women – since his initial days of rule.
Given the brute majority, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) enjoys in the Assembly, Ms. Mallik is all set to become the first woman Speaker of the State.
Political analysts attribute the long innings of Mr. Patnaik, who is the second longest serving Chief Minister of the country, to steady support from women in the past five elections. The BJD is also banking on women for the coming election.
