Odisha Cabinet Reshuffle: Bikram Arukha, Sudam Marndi, Sarada Nayak Take Oath As Ministers

Odisha cabinet reshuffle: This is the second rejig in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's cabinet after he reorganised his council of ministers in June of last year.

Odisha Cabinet Reshuffle: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lawmakers Bikram Keshari Arukha, Sudam Marndi, and Sarada Prashad Nayak on Monday took oath as ministers in the state cabinet. This is the second rejig in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's cabinet after he reorganised his council of ministers in June of last year. Governor Ganeshi Lal administered the oath of office to the three cabinet ministers at a function held at the convention centre on the premises of Lok Seva Bhavan Bhubaneswar in the presence of the Chief Minister. 

School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Labour Minister Srikant Sahu tendered their resignations last week. After Naba Kishore Das was killed in January, no one was appointed to replace him as the Health Minister. The additional charge of School and Mass Education, and Labour Departments was given to Revenue Minister Pramila Mallick and Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari was given the additional charge of the Health and Family Welfare Department. Last week, Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha also tendered his resignation, along with two other ministers.

According to news agency PTI, the newly sworn-in trio had earlier served as ministers and this was their re-induction into the cabinet. Both Arukha and Marndi were dropped from the council of ministers during the previous reshuffle held in June last year. Nayak had also earlier served as a minister in the Patnaik cabinet.

While Arukha was appointed as the speaker of the assembly, Marndi continued to work as a lawmaker from the Bangiriposi assembly seat in the Mayurbhanj district.

With the induction of the three new ministers, the strength of the cabinet has mounted to 22, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.