Bhubaneswar: Even as the outgoing ministers rejected the reasoning of any pressure from party chief to resign and averred that they have done so on their own to strengthen party organisation, dismal performance in panchayat elections and some other controversies, that often put party in trouble, are stated to be the reasons behind their ouster from Cabinet.
It is said that BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has effected the biggest ever Cabinet rejig that Odisha witnessed in his 17-year rule in a bid to stimulate governance and strengthen party base at grassroots level. Or is it the saffron threat?
Here are some of the issues which could have been the reasons behind the reshuffle.
Debi Prasad Mishra
Considered as the Narasinghpur strongman, Mishra had occupied important portfolios at different times for the last 13 years in the government. However, the party had witnessed poor performance in the recently concluded panchayat elections in his constituency. This reason might have prompted the CM to oust him from the Cabinet.
Puspendra Singhdeo & Sudam Marandi
The same reason of bad performance in rural polls is also stated to have cost both the leaders dear. The regional party had performed dismally in Singhdeo's constituency-Kalahandi and Marandi’s Mayurbhanj.
Sanjay Dasburma
The young face of the party, Dasburma was embroiled in chit fund scam which had tarnished the party image to certain extent. After resignation, he has been given the responsibility of BJD's youth wing.
Arun Sahoo
He had been in the headlines during different times over various controversial matters like Brahma Parivartan fiasco and fake Gazette notification. Besides, the Nayagarh legislator had also failed to meet party expectations in the panchayat elections in his area. Now, he has been entrusted with the task of strengthening BJD’s students' wing and party observer for Mayurbhanj district.
Pradeep Panigrahi & Pranab Prakash Das
Although, both the young ministers had maintained a clean image, they had to quit the ministerial berth as they have been asked to look into the coordination part in the party.
Jogendra Behera & Lal Bihari Himirika
Besides, party's dismal show in their respective constituencies in panchayat elections, both the veterans were in a row over their departmental performance.
Pradeep Amat
One of the oldest faces, Amat had been given the additional portfolio of Health along with Finance after Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak quit as Health minister few months ago. It is learnt that he could replace Niranjan Pujari as Speaker of Odisha Assembly.