A few more days and Odisha cabinet will be expanded. Veteran leader Manmohan Samal has hinted at this after becoming the state BJP president for fourth time. Following his statement, the heartbeat of some Ministers who are apprehensive about losing ministerial berths appears to have become faster. At the same time, several others aspiring for a place in the Cabinet have started lobbying. As per reliable sources, the wings of an influential group of the BJP may be clipped during the Cabinet expansion. Ever since the formation of the party government in Odisha, the state BJP has been in the news for intense factional strife. The government has been criticised many times for factional strife. Therefore, it is now being speculated that an influential group is likely to be sidelined during the cabinet expansion.
3-4 ministers to be dropped!
What will be the shape and contour of the new cabinet? It is said that Chief Minister Mohan Majhi is not satisfied with the performance of most of the Ministers. Departments like health, law, supplies, higher education have been under scanner in the last year. This apart, six ministerial posts are lying vacant and many ministers have been handling multiple departments. This affects their work efficiency. Therefore, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and the BJP state president Manmohan Samal may decide on the distribution of departments among Ministers. It is said that there has already been a preliminary discussion between the two leaders on the profile of the cabinet. The focus is now seems to be on greater participation of women and representation from all Lok Sabha constituencies in the ministry.
Lobby for boards, corporations
While six ministerial posts have been lying vacant in the state cabinet for over a year, the state government is yet to make appointments in different boards, corporations, academies and commissions. A decision to fill these posts is likely to be taken while effecting expansion of the cabinet. It is said that these posts could not be filled due to groupism and lobby politics for the last year. However, a decision will now be taken with Manmohan Samal again becoming the state BJP president. The Chief Minister and the state BJP president may take a final decision on the expansion of the cabinet very soon. After this, the posts of the corporation and board will be filled.
Influential group’s wings to be clipped!
Ever since the BJP formed the government in Odisha last year, there has been talk of undue interference by an influential group in the party. Be it the Rath Yatra chaos or the assault on a senior BMC officer, internal conflict in the state BJP seemed to have been exposed. Statements made by party leaders have put both the BJP and the state government in an embarrassing situation. It is also said that the leaders of a group are deliberately trying to throw the government into a tailspin. Therefore, it is now believed that Manmohan Samal and Chief Minister Mohan Majhi may take a major decision to sideline the leaders of the influential group. The BJP high command has given both the responsibility of Odisha.
During the formation of the BJP government in the state after its victory in the Assembly elections, leaders of the influential group were at the forefront of the race for the chief minister’s post. However, the BJP high command gave a big surprise by declaring Mohan Majhi as the chief minister. However, since then, there has allegedly been interference and pressure from the particular group. The impact of this was also seen in the cabinet. After the party went on the back foot due to factionalism, there is talk that now a decision may be taken to sideline that faction. This is said to have increased the concerns of some ministers.
