Cabinet reshuffle in Odisha: Know portfolios allocated to newly inducted ministers

Bhubaneswar: Following induction of three new ministers to Odisha Cabinet today, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik allocated them the portfolios.

Three members — Sudam Marndi, Bikram Keshari Arukha and Sarada Nayak — were inducted to Naveen’s cabinet today. They were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal in the morning.

While BK Arukha was allocated Finance Department in the state, Sudam Marndi got the School & Mass Education Department. Sarada Nayak will head the Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department in Naveen Patnaik’s Government.

Earlier, BK Arukha, Marndi and Nayak had served as ministers in Naveen government.

Arukha held several positions since 2008, including government chief whip, Speaker and minister of Rural Development, Law, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Parliamentary Affairs, Information & Public Relations, Cooperation and Public Enterprises. Recently, he had resigned from the post of Speaker in Odisha Assembly ahead of the cabinet reshuffle.

Similarly, Marndi had earlier served as Minister of State for Sports & Youth Services, ST & SC Development and Revenue & Disaster Management. This time, Marndi has been elevated to cabinet rank.

Nayak had served as MoS for Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare, Housing & Urban Development and Excise in between 2009 and 2012.

Worth mentioning that Arukha along with two controversial ministers Samir Ranjan Dash (School and Mass Education) and Srikanta Sahu (Labour and Employees’ State Insurance) had resigned from their positions on May 12 just a day before verdict of Jharsuguda bypoll in which ruling BJD candidate Dipali Das emerged as the winner.