Naveen’s Balanced Ministry That Will Propel Transformation And Development Of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has effected the first reshuffle of his ministry in his fifth term. The new look ministry has all the elements that make it a balanced one with representation of experienced and young faces. While the good performers have been given another chance, the new faces will show their mettle in serving the people of the state. When we see the combination of the ministry, women have been given more representation this time with the addition of three more ministers i.e., veteran MLA Usha Devi from Chikiti and Pramila Mallick From Binjharpur have been included as Cabinet Ministers. Tukuni Sahu, who was a Cabinet Minister in the previous ministry has also been given another chance as a Cabinet Minister. The new tribal face from Mayurbhanj district Basanti Hembrum has been picked up as a Minister of State. Likewise, Rita Sahu from Bijepur has also been given a Minister of State charge.

When we look into the new ministry of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in terms of the age of members, the new look ministry is more younger with the addition of faces such as Rohit Pujari from Redhakhol, Basanti Hembrum from Karanjia, Srikant Sahu from Polasara and Pritiranjan Ghadei from Sukinda. The good performing brigade of the Naveen Government that included Health Minister Naba Das, Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Mission Shakti and Women and Child Development Minister Tukuni Sahu, and ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jagannath Saraka have been retained.
With the focus of the Government of Odisha remaining high on the development of Western Odisha, the number of ministers from that region has also risen. Now seven ministers have been chosen by Naveen to take forward the development agenda of his government. Rita Sahu, Rakendra Dhokia, Rohit Pujari are the new faces from that region. Tukuni Sahu, Pradeep Amat, Naba Das, Niranjan Pujari are the other experienced Ministers from Western Odisha.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s home district has also been well represented with Bikram Arukha likely replacing Surya Patro as the Speaker of the Assembly and veteran leader Usha Devi returning to the Cabinet. Young face from Polasar Srikant Sahu has been given a Minister of State position.

Naveen’s new ministry will have two scheduled caste and two scheduled tribe ministers. About forty percent of the members of the ministry are OBCs.