Frontrunners for ministerial berths amid Odisha Cabinet expansion buzz

In a significant turn of political events, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi met with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan last evening, followed by the Governor’s unexpected visit to the Law Minister’s residence. These back-to-back meetings have added fuel to the growing speculation around an imminent cabinet expansion.

Adding to the intrigue, the BJP State President Manmohan Samal has extended his visit to Delhi this morning. As the state’s political temperature rises, all eyes are on senior leader Samal, who has been engaging in a series of closed-door meetings. His meetings and discussions have become a focal point of speculation, creating a sense of unease among many aspiring leaders within the party.

Although there is no official confirmation yet, sources indicate that the Chief Minister may also travel to Delhi in the next couple of days. While the Governor's office has stated that the meeting with the Chief Minister focused on Odisha’s development and roadmap planning, political circles are abuzz with different interpretations of the nearly hour-long discussion.

In Delhi, the BJP State President is expected to meet senior central leaders to discuss the current political and organizational situation in Odisha. Talks may also include the remaining cabinet expansion and appointments to various boards and corporations. 

"The party has started a discussion in this regard. The state party president has also given clarity about it. When the Chief Minister wants to take a decision about the matter, it will be revealed then," said Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan.

"Our party has defeated a bigwig to come to power. Hence, the MLAs are enough to fulfill the expectations of people. It is quite natural to cherish an ambition to be a minister. However, we are not putting any pressure for it. It's the Chief Minister's prerogative to select the ministers, BJP doesn't have the system for lobbying," said BJP leader Pradyumna Nayak.

Strong contenders

Following recent meetings and a high-profile visit to Delhi, political circles in Odisha are abuzz with speculation and anticipation. A sense of unease appears to have settled among party leaders, as deliberations begin over the allocation of six vacant cabinet positions.

Senior MLAs such as Jayanarayan Mishra, Babu Singh, Irasis Acharya, Amar Nayak, Ashrit Pattanayak, Sanatan Bijuli, Pratap Nayak, Chhabi Malik, and Durga Prasan Nayak are considered to be strong contenders. There is also talk that districts currently unrepresented in the cabinet, like Kandhamal and Koraput, may find representation this time.

Must Read: Odisha CM meets Governor amid cabinet expansion buzz

Additionally, there are growing discussions about a possible reshuffling of existing ministerial portfolios, which has added to the buzz within political corridors.

What political experts say

"The Chief Minister has known about the capabilities of the Ministers in various departments for the last 13 months. Some areas don't have representation in the cabinet. Considering all these issues, I don't think the Chief Minister and the state BJP president will have any problem in identifying proper leaders," said senior journalist Rabi Das.

On another note, long-vacant posts such as chairpersons of various boards and corporations—left unfilled for over a year—are expected to be filled soon. Under the leadership of BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, two rounds of meetings have already taken place. A blueprint is reportedly ready for the appointment of nearly 150 leaders in different roles, and talks with central leadership are scheduled to finalize and implement the plan shortly.