Odisha

3 Former Odisha Ministers Make A Comeback In Naveen Patnaik Cabinet

Bhubaneswar: Three senior BJD leaders – Bikram Keshari Arukha, Sudam Marndi, and Sarada Prasad Nayak – took oath as Cabinet ministers at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Governor Ganeshi Lal, who cut-short his visit to home state Haryana and arrived in Odisha capital on Sunday, administered the oath of office and secrecy at the swearing-in ceremony here in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Three vacancies were created after Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha along with two Ministers – Samir Ranjan Dash (School and Mass Education) and Srikanta Sahu (Labour and Employees’ State Insurance) –  resigned on May 12 and the murder of Naba Kishore Das on January 29.

This is Naveen’s second Cabinet reshuffle in his fifth term as the chief minister of the state and probably the last before the 2024 twin polls.

Also Read: Three Ex-Ministers To Rejoin Naveen Patnaik Cabinet Today

With the induction of these former ministers, the BJD hopes to strengthen its base in Ganjam, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh. However, a decision is yet to be taken on the next speaker. Prafulla Samal, Debi Prasad Mishra, Amar Prasad Satpathy and Badri Narayan Patra are frontrunners for the post, sources said.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Odisha Court Acquits BJP MP Pradeep Panigrahy In All 5 Job Fraud Cases

Berhampur: The JMFC (Rural) here on Wednesday acquitted BJP MP from Berhampur Pradeep Panigrahy in…

6 minutes ago

Odias In Mauritius Want To Reconnect With Their Roots, Vow To Build Jagannath Temple In Island Nation

Kendrapara: At a time when Bhubaneswar is hosting the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), around…

18 minutes ago

[In Pics] Glimpses From Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Celebration As Odisha Unveils Its Best For NRIs

Bhubaneswar: Odisha for the first time is hosting Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention, celebrated once…

48 minutes ago

Kangana Ranaut Invites Priyanka Gandhi Vadra To Watch Her Film Emergency

Mumbai: Actor Kangana Ranaut recently invited Congress MP from Wyanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to watch…

2 hours ago

PM Modi To Arrive In Bhubaneswar Today For Pravasi Bharatiya Divas; Know The Traffic Restrictions

Bhubaneswar: Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created sand art at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar…

2 hours ago

UP Man Lodges Plaint With Cops Alleging Wife Eloped With Beggar, Police Say His Claims ‘Baseless’

Lucknow: After a man in Uttar Pradesh lodged a complaint with police alleging that his…

2 hours ago