Bhubaneswar:Kishore Kumar Mohanty, a leader of Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), was Tuesday elected as 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," Mohanty said.

He was elected by voice vote after the Congress party boycotted the voting saying it had not been consulted by the BJD.

The ruling coalition Monday proposed his name for the post. The Congress did not field any candidate.

Mohanty has been elected to the assembly from Jharsuguda constituency in 1990, 2000, and 2004. He was working as chief whip of the ruling coalition in the assembly since May 2004.

Born in 1958, Mohanty started his political career in 1984 as a councillor to the local urban body. He became the chairman of Jharsuguda municipality in 1992 and held the post till 1995.

The speaker's post was lying vacant following the resignation of Maheswar Mohanty on March 31 after a women employee of the assembly accused him of sexual harassment.

Source : IANS