The question why did Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik keep them away from the newly-formed cabinet has now become a matter of discussion in power corridors and political circles.
It has been discussed that they have to pay dearly for their names being dragged in several criminal cases.
Ex-Law Minister Pratap Jena’s alleged involvement in Mahanga Double Murder case had put the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the dock. At that time, there was a lot of hue and cry for the police having not include his name from the purview of investigation despite the fact that his name was in the FIR.
The alleged involvement of Dibyashankar Mishra, who was then the Minister of State for Home, in Mamata Meher murder case had proved to be the most difficult situation for the BJD to handle it. This incident had proved to be a shot in the arm for the Opposition party as they had the government in the crosshairs continued to corner the government for a long time.
Similarly, it is being discussed that Arun Sahoo has paid the price of his name being dragged in Pari murder case. Bikram Keshari Arukha’s name was also entangled in the ACF Soumya Ranjan Mohapatra death case.
However, BJD leader Subash Singh termed the assumptions as baseless. “The Chief Minister has formed a clean cabinet for the service of Odisha people,” he said.
Ex-ministers like Sudam Marndi, Padmanabha Behera, Raghunandan Das, Padmini Dian, Premananda Nayak, Jyotiprakash Panigrahi and Sushant Singh have also been kept outside of the Cabinet. It is being discussed that the axe has fallen on them for their poor performance in the last three years.
“In past, I discharged whatever responsibilities the Chief Minister gave to me sincerely. But, I honour his decision,” said Jyotiprakash Panigrahi.
In his reaction, senior journalist Rabi Das said, “It is not a big thing because it is still the same Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet. But when it comes to a just balance from region point of view, it seems to me, it has left a lot to be desired.”
The ministers took oath in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a grand ceremony held in the central hills of Kandy, Xinhua news agency reported.
Along with the Cabinet ministers, 39 state ministers were also sworn in.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa retained the Defence Ministry. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the Minister of Finance, Urban Development, Housing, Buddhist Affairs, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
Dinesh Gunawardena was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Prasanna Ranatunga was sworn in as Minister of Tourism and Keheliya Rambukwella was sworn in as Minister of Mass Media.
Some of the notable state ministers sworn in were Chamal Rajapaksa who took oaths as State Minister of Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management, and Shehan Semasinghe who was sworn in as State Minister of Samurdhi (prosperity), Micro Finance, Self-Employment and Business Development.
Sri Lanka held its Parliamentary election on August 5 under strict health guidelines amid Covid-19 pandemic which has infected over 2,800 people in the island country so far.
The election was held to elect a new 225-member Parliament.
SLPP won a landslide victory by securing 145 seats, while the United People's Power, led by former presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa polled in as runner-up by securing 54 seats.
Sri Lanka's new Parliament will convene on August 20.
(IANS)
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