Odisha: Former State Assembly Speaker, two other MLAs take oath as Cabinet Ministers
Bikram Keshari Arukha, Sudam Marndi, and Sarada Prasad Nayak, three senior BJD leaders, took their oaths as Cabinet ministers on Monday at the Lok Seva Bhavan's Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar.
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Bhubaneswar: Bikram Keshari Arukha, Sudam Marndi, and Sarada Prasad Nayak, three senior BJD leaders, took their oaths as Cabinet ministers on Monday at the Lok Seva Bhavan's Convention Centre in Bhubaneswar.
Governor Ganeshi Lal, who arrived in Odisha capital on Sunday after a brief visit to his home state of Haryana, administered the oath of office and secrecy at the swearing-in ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha, along with two Ministers - Samir Ranjan Dash (School and Mass Education) and Srikanta Sahu (Labour and Employees' State Insurance) - resigned on May 12, and Naba Kishore Das was murdered on January 29.
This is Naveen's second Cabinet reshuffle during his fifth term as chief minister of the state, and it is likely to be the last before the 2024 twin elections.
The BJD hopes to strengthen its base in Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh with the addition of these former ministers. The next speaker, however, has yet to be decided. According to sources, Prafulla Samal, Debi Prasad Mishra, Amar Prasad Satpathy, and Badri Narayan Patra are the frontrunners for the position.
