This came hours after Minister Pramila Mallik resigned from the post and filed her nomination papers for the post of Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly. The election is scheduled for Friday.
Also Read: Pramila Mallik Resigns As Revenue Minister, Set To Become Odisha’s First Woman Speaker
Marndi was inducted into Naveen Patnaik cabinet in May this year and allocated school and mass education portfolio after being dropped from the council of ministers during the previous reshuffle held in June last year. The Bangriposi MLA then held the revenue and disaster management portfolio and the decision to elevate him was linked to the BJD’s renewed attempt to take on the BJP, which won five of the seven assembly segments in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency.