Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at the Raj Bhawan in the capital city here, giving impetus to the speculations regarding the expansion of the Cabinet in Odisha.

“Majhi paid a courtesy visit to Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at the Raj Bhawan today,” said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a Twitter (X) post.

Though the CMO did not reveal any details regarding the meeting, it is believed that the Chief Minister might have discussed his plan for expansion of the Cabinet with the Governor.

A few days ago, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal had hinted that the Chief Minister might opt for expansion of the Cabinet in recent future.

It is worth mentioning here that Majhi had formed a 16-member Council of Ministers after the BJP stormed into power in Odisha in the Assembly polls in 2024.

The Chief Minister had inducted two Deputy Chief Ministers, eight Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State with independent charge in the Council of Ministers in Odisha.

Several ministers were given the charge of multiple departments while Majhi himself kept several key portfolios including General Administration, Home, Finance, Water Resources and I&PR.

According to political observers, the Chief Minister has the liberty to induct at least five new ministers into the Council of Minsters in the state. Besides, he may reallocate the portfolios among the ministers as the BJP government in the state has completed a year in office.