Odisha: Buzz surrounds Naveen Patnaik ministry rejig after Rath Yatra

BHUBANESWAR: Speculation is doing the rounds of Naveen Patnaik carrying out a possible reshuffle of his council of ministers and that he is eyeing a date after the end of the nine-day Rath Yatra festivities, which began on Monday. Apart from giving more representation to women and backward castes, Naveen may include some new faces who had never become ministers earlier and bring back some former ministers. “Around five to six ministers are likely to be dropped while six to seven new members may take oath,” a source said.
Discussions are on regarding possible induction of Pranab Prakash Das, the party’s general secretary (organisation). Sources said he may be inducted as a minister and given some important portfolios.
Pranab, who enjoys Naven’s confidence, was not included in the ministry so that he could devote his time towards organisational setup when the BJD stormed back to power for a fifth straight term in 2019.
The three-time MLA from Jajpur was a minister of state with independent charge of energy and information technology from 2014-2017. The 49-year-old bachelor is considered among the most powerful leaders in the BJD after Naveen.
The chief minister has not brought any changes in his 21-member team, including 12 cabinet ministers and nine ministers of state, since taking oath on May 29, 2019. Naveen has been weighing options for some time regarding a reshuffle. With improvement in Covid situation now and a massive overhaul of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, he may complete the exercise soon.
From politically crucial Kendrapada district, either Atanu Nayak or Pratap Keshari Deb, both former ministers, may be inducted as it remains unrepresented in the ministry. Similarly, names of government chief whip Pramilla Mallick and deputy chief whip Rohit Pujari are doing the rounds for a ministerial berth.
Five-time MLA Bhupinder Singh, who had left the Congress in 2014 and joined the BJD, is also among the contenders for a ministerial post. Naveen may also give a cabinet berth to speaker S N Patro.