Bhubaneswar, June 18: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Ministers and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik among newly elected MLAs took oath as Members of the 17 Odisha Legislative Assembly today. 

Pro-Tem Speaker Ranendra Pratap Swain administered the oath of office and secrecy to the MLAs. The swearing-in ceremony will continue for two days, according to the sources.

First-timer MLAs were seen prostrating at the entry point of the Assembly building as a mark of respect to the House, the highest constitutional establishment of the State. 

According to the information, the Pro-Tem Speaker Swain administered the oath to CM Majhi first and then to his two deputies- KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida. 

Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who reached the Assembly premises at around 11 am was also administered the oath of office by Swain. 

Ministers Suresh Pujari, Mukesh Mahaling, Rabi Naik, Prithviraj Harichandan, and Suryabanshi Suraj took the oath. Similarly, Pratap Deb and Dibya Shankar Mishra among BJD MLAs were administered the oath as Members of the OLA. 

Sources said almost half of the 147 MLAs will be administered the oath of office today and the rest will take tomorrow. 

Members also garlanded the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das and Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das inside the Assembly premises.