Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to arrive in Odisha on March 22. He will lay the foundation stone of 10 fire stations and launch 25 rapid response vehicles during his official visit. However, his visit is highly significant from political point of view. During the senior BJP leader’s visit, major decisions may be taken regarding the expansion of the council of ministers along with appointments to corporations and boards. Similarly, while the process for state BJP president election is underway, Shah may put his final seal on it. He is visiting the state at a time when intense lobbying is underway for appointment of ministers, and heads of corporations and boards.
Ministers to lose posts!
Even though the BJP has been in power for the last nine months in the state, six ministerial posts are still lying vacant. The state can have a maximum of 22 ministers including the Chief Minister. However, there are a total of 16 ministers including the Chief Minister, 2 Deputy Chief Ministers, 8 Cabinet Ministers and 5 Ministers of State at present. There is talk that some of the ministers may lose ministerial positions based on their performance. It is being speculated that ministers who have failed to perform well in the last nine months, and those who have been making controversial statements may be dropped.
New faces to join ministry
Some new faces are likely to join the ministry. Seventeen districts, including Kendrapada, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Balasore, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal have not been represented in the ministry. Similarly, leaders who have come to BJP from BJD are also disappointed. While three of the ministers belong to Scheduled Tribes, two are from Scheduled Castes and five from OBC. Therefore, a balanced representation to different districts and caste equations will also be kept in mind during the expansion of the ministry. MLAs who have performed well in the assembly may get ministerial berths, while youths are likely to be given importance along with senior leaders. It is said that the final decision in this regard may be made during Shah’s visit to Odisha. Similarly, necessary steps need to be taken to maintain a balance between various groups in the party.
State president selection
The BJP has completed the selection process for the mandala and district presidents, but no decision has so far been taken on the state unit president. BJP’s national secretary Tarun Chugh has visited Odisha three times to discuss the organisational elections. The party’s state leadership also went to Delhi to hold meetings. However, a solution is yet to be found. Therefore, a decision in this regard may also be taken during Amit Shah’s visit. BJP’s present state unit president Manmohan Samal, state BJP vice president Golak Mohapatra, and Bishweshwar Tudu are said to be in the race for the post.
Corporation, board to be final
Everyone in the state BJP is eager to know as to who all are going to get the responsibility in different boards and corporations. Amit Shah may take a final decision in this regard too. The BJP government is considering appointing leaders who took organisational responsibility behind the scenes to the board and corporation posts. Many aspirants, including imported leaders, are eyeing the posts in various boards and corporations. Leaders who left other parties and joined the BJP before the elections are aspiring for these posts. Senior leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, state BJP in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, national general secretary Tarun Chugh have held brainstorming sessions in this regard. It is speculated that a decision may be taken during the upcoming visit of Amit Shah.