CM Majhi pays tribute to Odisha's first Assembly Speaker
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 6 November 2026 paid homage to Mukunda Prasad Das, the distinguished freedom fighter who became the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly after independence, on his death anniversary.
Key Takeaways
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi paid homage to Mukunda Prasad Das on his death anniversary on 6 November 2026 .
Mukunda Prasad Das was both a freedom fighter and the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly after independence.
The tribute was posted in Odia on X, underscoring the regional significance of the gesture.
Indian state chief ministers regularly mark such anniversaries to honour regional founders of democratic institutions.
Odisha's distinct statehood history lends particular weight to figures like Das in the state's political memory.
On the death anniversary of Mukunda Prasad Das — freedom fighter and the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly — Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi offered his reverent homage on Friday, 6 November 2026, keeping alive the memory of a figure who shaped the earliest institutions of independent Odisha.
Posting in Odia, CM Majhi wrote: 'ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ତଥା ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରଥମ ବାଚସ୍ପତି ମୁକୁନ୍ଦ ପ୍ରସାଦ ଦାସଙ୍କ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧବାର୍ଷିକୀରେ ଭକ୍ତିପୂତ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି' — 'Devout homage on the death anniversary of distinguished freedom fighter and the first Speaker of independent Odisha, Mukunda Prasad Das.'
Who was Mukunda Prasad Das?
Mukunda Prasad Das occupies a singular place in Odisha's post-independence story. A participant in India's freedom struggle, he went on to serve as the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly after the state gained its footing as a separate province following independence. That dual identity — freedom fighter turned legislative guardian — made him a foundational figure for Odia democratic institutions.
A tradition of remembering Odisha's builders
Chief ministers across Indian states routinely mark the death anniversaries of regional freedom fighters and pioneering legislators, recognising that state identity is built as much on these early architects as on any subsequent policy. For Odisha, whose distinct statehood was itself hard-won, figures like Das carry particular weight. CM Majhi's tribute continues that thread of institutional memory.
Point of View
CM Majhi reinforces a BJP-era emphasis on reclaiming regional historical figures as pillars of India's independence narrative. The gesture also signals the administration's intent to anchor its political identity in Odisha's own institutional founders, not just national icons. For a state where distinct Odia identity remains a live political sentiment, such tributes carry quiet but real electoral resonance. Watch whether the state government backs this remembrance with formal Assembly-level commemoration in the upcoming session.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mukunda Prasad Das?
Mukunda Prasad Das was a freedom fighter from Odisha who served as the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly after India's independence, playing a foundational role in the state's democratic institutions.
Who was the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly?
Mukunda Prasad Das was the first Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly following independence.
Why did Odisha CM Mohan Majhi pay tribute to Mukunda Prasad Das?
CM Mohan Charan Majhi paid tribute on 6 November 2026 to mark the death anniversary of Mukunda Prasad Das, acknowledging his contributions as a freedom fighter and Odisha's first Assembly Speaker.
What did CM Majhi post about Mukunda Prasad Das?
CM Majhi posted in Odia on X, offering 'devout homage on the death anniversary of distinguished freedom fighter and the first Speaker of independent Odisha, Mukunda Prasad Das.'
What is the significance of Mukunda Prasad Das for Odisha?
Mukunda Prasad Das represents the dual legacy of the independence struggle and early democratic institution-building in Odisha, making him a key figure in the state's separate political and cultural identity.
