CM Naveen rules out Cabinet reshuffle

Bhubaneswar: Putting an end to speculation, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today said that the party has no plans of reshuffle in the immediate future.

"There is no plan for a reshuffle yet," the Chief Minister clarified while speaking to the media on Saturday.

Speculation about a possible reshuffle was rife after the CM dismissed senior leader and Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout from his Council of Ministers following the latter's ‘beggar’ remarks on Brahmins at a function in Malkangiri district on December 19.

A day after being sacked from the ministry, Rout today said that he was a follower of late Biju Patnaik and his secular ideology.

Also Read: Damodar Rout loses minister post over casteist remarks

"To be in power is a part and parcel of being in politics. It's a normal process and I have no qualms. I will continue to work for the people who have voted me to power," Rout added.

Meanwhile, Cuttack-Barabati BJD MLA Debasish Samantaray said that the dismissal of Rout is a warning for all the BJD leaders to refrain from making any comment belittling the party's image.

"The CM has clearly mentioned that the party will strongly disapprove of anyone who makes derogatory remarks against any caste, creed or religion. Rout's remarks have always put the party in bad taste and worked as instigation for the BJP and the Congress to target us," said Samantaray, adding that Dama's ouster from ministry will have no impact on the party.

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