Odisha minister Rohit Pujari removed from Naveen’s cabinet; Atanu gets additional charge

Bhubaneswar: Less than a month after Cabinet reshuffle in Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik removed Higher Education Minister Rohit Pujari from the Council of Ministers.

In this regard, CM Patnaik recommended Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal to exclude Rohit Pujari from the state cabinet.

The action was taken following annual review report on the minister’s performance in his department which was said to be not satisfactory.

In place of Pujari, CM Patnaik appointed Food Supplies, Consumer Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to hold the additional charge of the Higher Education Department.

Recently, Pujari was dragged into a controversy over his remark on senior leaders above 60 years of age. He had stated that those leaders, who are above 60 years, should not be made MLA as they will not be able to give proper time to the constituency and people.

Pujari had assumed office as the Minister of Higher Education in Odisha in June last year. Earlier, he had also served as the deputy chief whip in the Odisha Assembly from 2014 to 2022.

On May 22 this year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had inducted three ministers into his cabinet removing two ministers. Ahead of the reshuffle, Pujari was not asked to resign as the minister.

The exact reason behind the removal is yet to be revealed by the ruling BJD.