MLAs get call from Naveen Niwas, likely to become ministers

Bhubaneswar: Even as the count down to Naveen Patnaik’s swearing in as Chief Minister of Odisha for a record fifth term has begun for May 29, several MLAs, including some first timers, have reportedly received phone calls from Naveen Niwas (residence of BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik) here this evening to attend the swearing-in ceremony and take oath as ministers of Patnaik’s new government.

The much-awaited phone calls were received by the following MLAs:

1. Susanta Singh (Bhatli MLA)
2. Ashok Chandra Panda (Bhubaneswar-Ekamra MLA)
3. Tukuni Sahu (Titlagarh MLA)
4. Ranendra Pratap Swain (Athagarh MLA)
5. Samir Ranjan Dash (Nimapara MLA)
6. Surya Narayan Patro ( Digapahandi MLA)
7. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi (Simulia MLA)
8. Naba Das (Jharsuguda MLA)
9. Dibya Sankar Mishra ( Junagarh MLA)
10. Padmanav Behera (Birmaharajpur MLA)
11. Bikram Keshari Arukha (Bhanjanagar MLA)
12. Niranjan Pujari (Sonepur MLA)
13. Pramila Mallik (Binjharpur MLA)
14. Manohar Randhari (Nabarangpur MLA)
15. Snehangini Chhuria (Attabira MLA)
16. Jagannath Saraka (Bissam Cuttack MLA)
17. Prafulla Kumar Mallik (Kamakhyanagar MLA)
18. Raghunandan Das (Balikuda-Erasama MLA)
19. Pratap Jena (Mahanga MLA)
20. Padmini Dian (Kotpad MLA)
21. Tusharkanti Behera (Kakatpur MLA)
22. Sudam Marandi (Bangriposi MLA)

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that six-time MLA and former minister Surya Narayan Patro to become the new Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Former minister Pramila Mallick will be appointed as the Government Chief Whip.

Patnaik, along with his Cabinet members, will take oath as the Chief Minister at the Exhibition Ground here tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, the ministerial hopefuls were seen thronging Naveen Niwas as lobbying for ministerial berths has intensified.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) sources said Patnaik would play a balancing act by inducting some new faces and some old and experienced hands in his new Council of Ministers.

Speculation is also rife that more number of women may get inducted in the Cabinet as Patnaik is advocating 33 per cent reservation in the Assembly and Parliament.

The BJD bagged 112 seats in the 146-member Assembly.