Excellence Award Ceremony concluded under the Chief Hospitality of Governor
Mrs. Bhavna Bohra and Mr. Lakheshwar Baghel honored as outstanding MLAs
Dr. Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Shri Yogesh Mishra and Shri Vishwaprakash Purena awarded for excellent parliamentary reporting
Raipur, 16 July 2025
The “Excellence Award Ceremony” held in Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha premises today under the chief hospitality of Governor Shri Ramen Deka was concluded in a dignified atmosphere. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr. Raman Singh presided over the ceremony. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai and Leader of Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant attended the ceremony as special guests. In the “Excellence Award Ceremony”, Smt. Bhavna Vohra and Shri Lakheshwar Baghel were honored as outstanding MLAs for the year 2024. Special Correspondent of Dainik Bhaskar Dr. Rakesh Kumar Pandey, State Bureau Chief of Sudarshan News Channel Shri Yogesh Mishra and Cameraman of Sudarshan News Shri Vishwaprakash Purena were honored in the ceremony for excellent parliamentary reporting.
Deputy Chief Ministers Mr. Arun Saw and Mr. Vijay Sharma, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr. Kedar Kashyap, MPs Mrs. Jyotsna Mahant, Mr. Brijmohan Agrawal and Mr. Vijay Baghel, Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh’s wife Mrs. Veena Singh, Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Dev Sai’s wife Mrs. Kaushalya Sai, ministers and MLAs also attended the “Excellence Award Ceremony”. A booklet focused on the awareness program of the MLAs elected for the sixth assembly was also released at the ceremony.
Addressing the “Excellence Award Ceremony” as the Chief Guest, Governor Shri Ramen Deka said that this ceremony is not only an occasion to honour individual achievements but also a medium to further strengthen our parliamentary traditions. He congratulated Smt. Bhavna Bohra and Shri Lakheshwar Baghel selected for the best MLA of the year 2024, and Dr. Rakesh Kumar Pandey, Shri Yogesh Mishra and Shri Vishwaprakash Purena selected for best parliamentary journalism.
Governor Shri Ramen Deka said in the ceremony that all of you have worked to convey the activities of the Vidhan Sabha to the public with honesty, sensitivity and responsibility. This role of yours is extremely important in ensuring transparency and accountability of democracy. Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha has a healthy tradition where not only MLAs, but also journalists are honored. I urge all of you to always give priority to public interest and public welfare by rising above your political commitments.
Governor Shri Deka said that Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha has entered the silver jubilee year of its establishment. This occasion is a moment of introspection and new resolution for all of us. To keep the soul of our parliamentary democracy alive, it is necessary to respectfully follow parliamentary traditions and procedures. The real significance of any legislative house lies in public welfare. For the overall development of the country and the state, it is necessary that all public representatives rise above party boundaries and work together in a spirit of coordination and cooperation.
Addressing the function, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said that 90 MLAs of Chhattisgarh represent three crore people of the state. All of them are the best. Selecting two best MLAs every year is a difficult task. This time 50 new MLAs have been elected. Vidhan Sabha of Chhattisgarh is a lively Vidhan Sabha. It has not given up its ‘Chhattisgarhiya nature’. With goodwill and cooperation, issues of public interest are discussed actively and seriously.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai said in his address that today is a special day for all of us. ‘Excellence Award Ceremony’ is an occasion of pride and inspiration. Vidhan Sabha is the temple of democracy. It is the duty of the legislators to raise issues of public interest here. Parliamentary reporting is a task full of vigilance and responsibility. Media representatives play an important role in this work. There is a tradition in our Vidhan Sabha to honour them to underline their basic role.
Shri Sai said that the proceedings of our Vidhan Sabha are appreciated across the country. The active participation of MLAs and the constant monitoring of the media has established Chhattisgarh as an ideal state in terms of democracy. Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha is the first and only such Vidhan Sabha in the country where as soon as an MLA enters the sanctum sanctorum, he is automatically suspended. This uniqueness and self-discipline has given Chhattisgarh a new identity on the national stage. He said that in the past years, Chhattisgarh has not only made progress in the economic and social fields, but the Vidhan Sabha and parliamentary functioning here have also emerged as an example in the entire country.
Addressing the function, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Dr. Charandas Mahant, while congratulating the honored MLAs and journalists, said that there have been differences of opinion among the members of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on the issues of the state, but there has never been any rift among them. He said that with the arrival of Dr. Raman Singh as the Speaker of the Assembly, better coordination between the ruling and opposition parties has been seen in the House and we are all moving forward with unity and brotherhood. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap expressed gratitude to the guests and people present at the function. Secretary of the Assembly Shri Dinesh Sharma gave the welcome speech.
