Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 -- A day before the commencement of the monsoon session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Deputy Speaker Rajani Kant Singh tested positive for COVID-19 today.

The Angul MLA has developed mild fever and been admitted to the SUM COVID-19 Hospital here. "With the blessings of Lord Jagannath, I wish to recover soon and continue to serve the people," he said.

Singh urged those who came in contact with him recently to undergo COVID-19 test.

Similarly, Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi once again tested positive for COVID-19. He had also tested positive for the virus three weeks ago.

While the assembly session is set to begin tomorrow, a total of 43 MLAs have so far contracted the virus.

The legislators includ...