Mohan Charan Majhi has made history as the first BJP Chief Minister of Odisha. His swearing-in ceremony took place at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. This event marks a new chapter for the state, which has been under the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) leadership for 24 years. Many major BJP leaders including PM Modi attended his sworn-in ceremony. With Manjhi, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida also took oath as the deputy Chief Ministers. Know the full list of 16 ministers Manjhi-cabinet in this article.
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Historic Swearing-In
On the day of the swearing-in, Mohan Charan Majhi, a prominent tribal leader, took the oath as Chief Minister. Alongside him were his two Deputy Chief Ministers: Pravati Parida and Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. This moment was particularly significant as Pravati Parida became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha.
New Leadership and Victory
The new cabinet consists of 22 ministers, including the Chief Minister. The BJP’s victory in the assembly elections brought a significant change, ending the long reign of the BJD led by Naveen Patnaik. The BJP won a comfortable majority with 78 out of 147 seats, while the BJD secured 51 seats, falling short of the majority mark. The Congress managed to win 14 seats.
Key Cabinet Members
Suresh Pujari, who won in the Brajarajnagar Assembly constituency, is a notable figure in the new cabinet. He defeated BJD candidate Alaka Mohanty by a significant margin of 26,789 votes. Rabi Narayan Naik, another key member, won in the Kuchinda Assembly constituency, defeating BJD candidate Rajendra Kumar Chhatria by 32,220 votes.
| Minister | Portfolio |
| Mohan Charan Majhi | Chief Minister |
| Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo | Deputy CM |
| Pravati Parida | Deputy CM |
| Suresh Pujari | Minister |
| Rabi Narayan Naik | Minister |
| Nityananda Gond | Minister |
| Krushna Chandra Patra | Minister |
| Prithviraj Harichandan | Minister |
| Dr Mukesh Mahaling | Minister |
| Bibhuti Bhushan Jena | Minister |
| Dr Krushna Chandra Mahapatra | Minister |
| Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia | Minister |
| Suryabanshi Suraj | Minister |
| Pradeep Bala Samanta | Minister |
| Gokulananda Mallik | Minister |
| Sampad Charan Swain | Minister |
Other Important Ministers
Nityananda Gond and Krushna Chandra Patra also joined the cabinet. Gond won from the Umerkote Assembly constituency by defeating BJD candidate Nabina Nayak with a margin of 10,373 votes. Patra, who emerged victorious in the Dhenkanal Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Sudhir Kumar Samal with a margin of 20,439 votes.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo | Minister |
| Pravati Parida | Minister |
| Suresh Pujari | Minister |
| Rabi Narayan Naik | Minister |
| Nityananda Gond | Minister |
| Krushna Chandra Patra | Minister |
| Prithviraj Harichandan | Minister |
| Mukesh Mahaling | Minister |
| Bibhuti Bhusan Jena | Minister |
| Dr Krushna Chandra Mohapatra | Minister |
| Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia | Minister of State (MoS) with Independent Charge |
| Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajna | Minister of State (MoS) with Independent Charge |
| Pradeep Bal Samanta | Minister of State (MoS) with Independent Charge |
| Gokula Nanda Mallik | Minister of State (MoS) with Independent Charge |
| Sampad Chandra Swain | Minister of State (MoS) with Independent Charge |
| Laxman Bag | Likely to secure a Cabinet berth |
| Babu Singh | Contender |
| Irasis Achaharya | Contender |
| Sanjali Murmu | Contender |
| Satrughan Jena | Contender |
| Nabin Kumar Jain | Contender |
| Saroj Kumar Pradhan | Contender |
| Durga Prasan Nayak | Contender |
| Pradyumna Kumar Nayak | Contender |
| Pradeep Bal Samanta | Contender (also listed as MoS with Independent Charge) |
| Mukesh Mahaling | Contender (also listed as Minister) |
| Nityananda Gond | Contender (also listed as Minister) |
| Suryabanshi Suraj | Contender (also listed as MoS with Independent Charge) |
| Prithiviraj Harichandan | Contender (also listed as Minister) |
Ministers of State (MoS) with Independent Charge
Five MLAs were appointed as Ministers of State with Independent Charge. Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, who won from the Jashipur Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Chakradhar Hembram by 34,667 votes. Suryabanshi Suraj Sthitaprajna, victorious in the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Sanjaya Kumar Das by 8,095 votes.
Additional Ministers
Pradeep Bal Samanta, who won in the Sukinda Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Pritiranjan Gharai by 9,577 votes. Gokula Nanda Mallik, who secured victory in the Polasara Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Srikanta Sahu by 20,946 votes. Sampad Chandra Swain, who won from the Paradeep Assembly constituency, defeated BJD candidate Geetanjali Routray by 15,787 votes.
A New Era for Odisha
As Odisha prepares for a transition of power, the focus is on the incoming government and its plans for the state’s future. With 15 ministers along with CM Mohan Charan Majhi inducted into the cabinet on June 12, 2024, expectations are high. Majhi, a BJP MLA from Keonjhar, belongs to the tribal Santhal community and is the first CM from Keonjhar in the state’s northern region.
Background and Expectations
Mohan Charan Majhi previously served as Minister of Industry and Public Enterprise in the BJP-BJD coalition from 2000 to 2009. His victory in Keonjhar was by a margin of 11,577 votes, defeating the BJD’s Mina Majhi. Pravati Parida, who won her first assembly seat from Nimapara after three consecutive losses, now holds a significant position as Deputy Chief Minister.
The BJP’s victory dethroned the BJD after a 24-year reign. With support from three Independent MLAs, the BJP’s strength in the assembly increased to 81 seats. The alliance between BJD and BJP, which lasted from 1998 to 2009, ended before the 2009 general elections, paving the way for new political dynamics in Odisha.
Conclusion
The new BJP-led government in Odisha, under the leadership of Mohan Charan Majhi, is set to bring changes to the state’s political landscape. With a strong cabinet and experienced leaders, the focus will be on development and progress. The end of the BJD’s 24-year reign marks a significant shift, and all eyes are on the new administration to see how they steer Odisha towards a brighter future.