In an upcoming cabinet reshuffle, three experienced politicians make a comeback as ministers on Monday to fill vacancies. Several ministers are also expected to have their portfolios changed. Sarada P Nayak, Bikram Arukh, and Sudam Marandi, who were previously dropped from the ministry, are the potential inductees.
Bikram Arukh, previously dropped from the ministry, recently resigned as Speaker of the Assembly, sparking speculation of his ministerial reinstatement.
Sudam Marandi and Sarada P Nayak, former ministers, are likely to be inducted based on their Lok Sabha seats and represented districts. The ruling party, BJD, aims to strengthen its position in Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh districts, where the opposition BJP holds influence. Sudam Marandi, a tribal leader from Mayurbhanj district, and Sarada P Nayak, hailing from Rourkela in Sundergarh district, will bolster the BJD’s presence.
Notably, the Lok Sabha seats in Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh were won by the BJP, with Juel Oram and Bisweshwar Tudu emerging as the victors.
The inclusion of Marandi and Nayak aims to challenge the BJP’s prospects in these constituencies.
Bikram Arukh’s resignation as Speaker raises expectations of his appointment as a minister, further solidifying the BJD’s control in Ganjam district, where they face threats from the BJP and rebel MLA Panigrahi.
Interestingly, the reshuffle appears to have given less attention to the coastal districts of Puri and Jagatsinghpur. Recently, Ministers Samir Dash and Srikanta Sahu, representing Puri and Ganjam districts respectively, were asked to resign. Surprisingly, no representative from Puri district has been included in the ministry so far.
Speculations suggest that a woman may be appointed as the new Speaker.
The cabinet reshuffle aims to strengthen the BJD’s position in key districts, ensuring effective governance and improved party coordination.