Bhubaneswar: After the completion of the review of the performance of all departments, speculation is mounting about a possible reshuffle in the Naveen Patnaik-led council of ministers. The grapevine has it that the reshuffle may come after the Raja festival.
What lends credence to talk of a reshuffle is past experience: Naveen has gone in for a rejig after two years in his previous terms too.
Besides, with intra-party fighting and onflict between seniors and juniors at its peak and panchayat elections schèduled for early next year, there are compelling reasons to go in for a reshuffle at this stage, party insiders say.
The ministers themselves, however, are unwilling to stick their necks out.
"We have performed to the best of our ability and have tried to do what we had been assigned. All work has been done as per his (CM's) instructions. Now it's up to him to decide if he is pleased with our work," School and Mass Education minister Debi Mishra said.
Even Damodar Rout, one of the seniormost ministers in the Cabinet Damodar Rout who is never short of words, chose to remain non-committal on the issue refusing to say anything beyond the inane "The decision of the party supremo is final in such matters."
"He would keep those in the cabinet who can win his trust. I had resigned twice in the past as per his orders. I have never asked the reason," Rout said.
Party spokesperson Amar Satpathy echoed a similar view on the matter. "BJD is the only party in which party chief decides on reshuffle. Who would be a part of his cabinet is the prerogative of CM. No one else has anything to do in the affair," he said.
Sources in the BJD said the reshuffle may involve some ministers from south, north and eastern regions. They said two seniors and a junior minister may face the axe. Patnaik, known to take everyone by surprise in party matters, is likely to give priority to the western region, the sources added.
Intra-party squabble may be taken into consideration during the reshuffle while it is said that panchayat polls may also play a vital role in the reshuffle.