10 ministers inducted in Odisha CM's cabinet

Bhubaneswar, May 7: Ten ministers including six new faces from the Biju Janta Dal (BJD) party were inducted into the cabinet of Chief Minister veen Patik-led Odisha government on Sunday. Governor S.C. Jamir administered the oath to the new ministers in the presence of Chief Minister veen Patik and others leaders of the BJD at the Raj Bhavan here. While Niranjan Pujari, Surya ryan Patro, Prafulla Samal, Pratap Je, Sashi Bhusan Behera and Maheswar Mohanty were given the cabinet rank, four took oath as ministers of state. Except Behera, other five were ministers in the Patik government, which has been ruling the state from the past 17 years. “I thank Patik for reposing faith in me. I will perform to best of my abilities for the betterment of the state,” said Niranjan Pujari, who became minister after quitting the Speaker post in the state assembly.

Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick as well as Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi have been elevated to the status of cabinet rank. The ministers of state are Sushant Singh, Nrushingha Sahu, Chandra Sarathi Behera and Anta rayan Das. “I thank the Chief Minister and the people of Odisha for reposing faith in me. I will work with the guidance of veen Patik,” said Chandra Sarathi Behera. “I will work for strengthening the party and ensure Odisha government’s schemes reach people,” said Sushant Singh. The distribution of portfolios would be declared later in the day, said sources. The me of Karanjia MLA Bijay yak, who was supposed to take oath as minister of state, was dropped at the last minute, sources said. (IANS)