Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik likely to reshuffle ministry, speaker resigns

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha assembly speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha resigned on Friday citing personal reasons giving rise to speculation that chief minister Naveen Patnaik may undertake a reshuffle of his council of ministers soon.
“I have sent my resignation to deputy speaker Rajani Kant Singh. I have tendered my resignation purely for personal reasons. But I will be open to whatever responsibility is given to me in future either in the government or the party,” Arukha told media persons at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
The six-time MLA representing Bhanjanagar assembly seat in Naveen’s home district Ganjam had taken over as speaker barely a year ago in June last year after SN Patro had stepped down.
Arukha has been a minister in Naveen Patnaik’s council from 2009-2014, 2014-2019 and 2019-2022 holding important portfolios such as law, environment and forests and parliamentary affairs.
Speculation is rife that Naveen, currently on Delhi tour till Saturday, may reshuffle his council after his return and set his new team for the next elections both in government and in the party in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
Arukha may either stage a comeback as a minister or may get key organizational assignment. In his current term, Naveen had reshuffled his ministry only once in June last year when he had asked all his ministers to resign before the exercise.