Pratyusha in Standing Committee on Defence

BJD’s Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh, who won the bypolls following his husband Hemendra Singh’s sudden demise, has been inducted into the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence headed by Major General B C Khanduri.

Pratyusha has recently received a notice from the Orissa High Court over the issue of nationality. The court issued notices to Pratyusha, Election Commission and the Returning Officer on a petition, which claimed that she still remains the citizen of Nepal and does not qualify to be a Member of Parliament.

Pratyusha had defeated BJP’s Rudra Madhab Ray in the bypoll. Congress candidate Abhimanyu Behera finished third. She improved the victory margin secured by her husband during the 2014 general elections.