Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to the most recent list made public by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday, three state members of parliament—Bhartruhari Mahtab, Baijayant “Jay” Panda, and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka—have been named chairpersons of important parliamentary committees, marking a significant acknowledgement of Odisha’s political leadership at the federal level. Baijayant Panda, a Kendrapara MP and senior BJP leader, will serve as the head of the Select Committee on the 2025 Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill. His nomination coincides with a period of strong legislative scrutiny of economic changes.
Bhartruhari Mahtab, a seasoned lawmaker and six-time member of parliament from Cuttack, has been appointed chair of the Standing Committee on Finance, one of the most powerful committees governing fiscal and economic policy, including the operations of the Ministry of Finance. The Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, which is responsible for assessing policies that have an immediate effect on rural India, will be chaired by Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, who will represent the Congress party.
With members chosen from both Houses of Parliament and across political parties, the revised composition, which went into effect on September 26, reflects a larger approach of inclusive representation. Defense, Commerce, Education, Health, and Environment are just a few of the many ministries that are represented on the 24 Standing Committees. Among other noteworthy nominations, Radha Mohan Singh will lead the Defense Committee, while Shashi Tharoor will remain the chair of the Committee on External Affairs. The Committee on Coal, Mines, and Steel will be chaired by Anurag Singh Thakur, while the Committee on Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development will be led by Basavaraj Bommai.
Two Select Committees have been established as part of the restructure to discuss important legislative legislation; Tejasvi Surya is leading the panel on the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025. Three Odisha MPs were appointed to prominent posts, highlighting the state’s increasing sway over national policy and reaffirming the value of regional participation in the context of parliamentary scrutiny.
