Baijayant Panda resignation requests accepted: Speaker

The effective strength of Lok Sabha has reduced to 533 with two more seats falling vacant, sources in Parliament said today, after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan accepted BJD MP Baijayant Jay Panda’s resignation and Jose K Mani of Kerala Congress (M) was nominated to Rajya Sabha.

“As Parliament’s monsoon session begins, I say adieu, after 18 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 1 day. Met Hon’ Speaker yesterday and said I cannot represent my former party anymore, it has strayed too far from its original principles. And so, requested her to accept my resignation from Lok Sabha,” Mr Panda tweeted.

The MP of Kendrapara had on June 12 resigned as a member of the Lok Sabha.