Odisha Cabinet Reshuffle On The Cards? Ministers Asked For Departments Performance: Reports

Sources in the CMO said Patnaik would hold one-to-one meetings with all the ministers and review their performance after getting the reports.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik (File Photo/Getty)

New Delhi: Amid speculations over a possible cabinet reshuffle, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked all ministers in his government to submit performance reports of their respective departments.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a letter sought to know the ministers’ performance and their departments’ achievements, among others, PTI reported.

Sources in the CMO said Patnaik would hold one-to-one meetings with all the ministers and review their performance after getting the reports.

The CMO has also sought information regarding whether the ministers have worked towards fulfilling the promises made by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in its election manifesto.

Sources further said the ministers would be asked to explain the reason in case of poor performance.

Sources added the party’s performance in the recently-concluded panchayat and civic elections in the districts of the respective ministers will also be taken into consideration during the review.

Odisha Water Resources Minister Raghunandan Das on his part said the performance report has been prepared, adding it will soon be submitted to the CMO.

“Our department has undertaken many works as per the state government's 5-T initiative." The '5T' initiative was launched in 2019 for achieving transparency, teamwork, technology and timely completion of projects, leading to transformation,” the news agency quoted Das as saying.

Meanwhile, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities Minister Ashok Chandra Panda said that his department has been submitting performance reports to the CMO every month, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Responding to a poser about the possible reshuffle, Panda said it is the “prerogative of the Chief Minister”, adding “he alone can decide on it”.

Patnaik, who came to power for the fifth consecutive term earlier in 2019, has not made reshuffle of departments in the state government.