Ahead of the 2024 general elections, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday reformed his cabinet, inducting 13 MLAs into the cabinet and appointed eight others as ministers of state (independent charge).
The team includes fresh faces, both young and senior leaders and women.
new cabinet
Cabinet ministers included Jagannath Sarka (ST and SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare, Law); Niranjan Pujari (Finance Department with portfolio in addition to Parliamentary Affairs); Ranendra Pratap Swain (Agriculture and Farmer Empowerment, Fisheries and Animal Resource Development); Pramila Malik (Revenue and Disaster Management); Usha Devi (Housing and Urban Development Department); Prafulla Kumar Malik (Steel and Mines, Construction Department); and Pratap Keshari Deb (Industry, MSME, Department of Energy). Earlier, Deb was appointed as the chairman of the Odisha State Planning Board.
While Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak was allotted Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Cooperation; Pradeep Kumar Amat was given the charge of Forest and Environment, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Information and Public Relations Department. Naba Kishore Das will continue to serve as the Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
Ashok Chandra Panda has been given the charge of Science and Technology, Public Enterprises, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, while Tukuni Sahu has been given Water Resources, Commerce and Transport.
Rajendra Dholakia was allocated as the new Planning and Convergence Minister in the cabinet reshuffle.
state Minister
The MoS (Independent Charge) is Sameer Ranjan (Minister of School and Mass Education); Ashwini Kumar Patra (Tourism, Oriya Language, Literature and Culture, Excise); Preeti Ranjan Ghadei (Rural Development, Skill Development and Technical Education); Shrikant Sahu (Labour and Employees State Insurance Minister); Tusharkanti Behera (Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Sports and Youth Services, Home); Rohit Pujari (Higher Education Department); Rita Sahu (Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts); Basanti Hembram (Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti).
“I am thankful to Patnaik for giving me an opportunity to serve the people of Odisha,” Sarka said.
Pratap Deb said, “The CM has honored the leaders who worked hard to strengthen the organisation.” Pramila Malik said, ‘It is a happy moment for me.
watch the elections
The focus is on sector, performance, women, youth, fresh faces and skills. There are seven ministers from Western Odisha – Niranjan Pujari from Subarnapur, Pradip Amat from Boudh and Naba Das from Jharsuguda. Rajendra Dholakia from Nuapada, Rita Sahu from Bargarh. Five women have been included in the team – Pramila Malik from Jajpur, Usha Devi from Ganjam, Basanti Hembram from Mayurbhanj, Tukuni Sahu from Bolangir and Rita Sahu from Bargarh.
Seven have become ministers for the first time – Ashwini Patra from Baleshwar, Preeti Ranjan Ghadei from Jajpur, Shrikant Sahu from Ganjam, Rita Sahu, Rajendra Dholkiam, Basanti Hembram and Rohit Pujari.
Nine ministers have been repeated in the ministry. Ranendra Pratap Swain, Jagnnath Saraka, Niranjan Pujari, Prafulla Mallick, Naba Kishore Das, Tukuni Sahu, Ashok Chandra Panda, Samir Ranjan Dash and Tusharkanti Behera will continue in the cabinet.
With inputs from Ajesh Mallick and Sumant Sundray
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