Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of BJP on Sunday celebrated senior party leader and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s elevation to Cabinet rank with extra responsibility of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry.
Leaders and workers danced to drum beats and exchanges sweets at the party office here. They were of the opinion that Dharmendra’s promotion will boost the morale of workers at grassroots level and help the saffron party snatch power from BJD in 2019 assembly elections. “It will definitely reflect on our agenda to capture 120 seats in Odisha as set by Party chief Amit Shah,” said BJP state president Basanta Panda.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Dharmendra said, “I am grateful to honourable Prime Minister as he has given me an opportunity to act as a soldier in his government and for giving due honour to Odia community. I will try to give best performance for his New India mission and development of Odisha and other eastern Indian States which would influence the development of country.”
Odisha had never been given such importance, he added.