Bhubaneswar: Soon after being elected as Odisha chief minister by BJP legislature party, Mohan Majhi on Tuesday staked the claim to form government before Governor.
Majhi accompanied by Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bhupindar Yadav, BJP’s Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, party’s state president Manmohan Samal and Deputy CMs designate K V Singh Deo and Pravati Parida drove to Raj Bhavan after the legislature party’s meeting in the evening and met Governor Raghubar Das.
Majhi handed over the letter of support of 81 MLAs, including 78 of BJP and three Independents, to form the government to the Governor.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the BJP’s legislature party meeting as Central observer in the party office in Bhubaneswar, announced the name of Majhi as Odisha’s first BJP chief minister.
The BJP legislature party also elected Patnagarh MLA Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Nimapara MLA Prabhati Parida as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Majhi and his council of ministers are scheduled to be administered the oath of office at a grand ceremony in Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shaha are among several other dignitaries who will attend the function.
