Mohan Charan Manjhi, four-time MLA and BJP's tribal face in the state, has been elected as the new chief minister of Odisha. Two deputy chief ministers- KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida- have also been elected to assist the chief minister in running the affairs of the state.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet will take place on Wednesday, June 12. The oath taking ceremony will be attended by Prime minister Narendra Modi as well as outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The prime minister is also expected to hold a roadshow in Bhubaneshwar on his way to the venue, the Janata Maidan.
The BJP legislature party selected the names Tuesday evening in the presence of Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who were sent as observers by the Central leadership.
"Delighted to announce that Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi has been elected unanimously as the leader of Odisha BJP Legislature Party. He is a young and dynamic party karyakarta who will take the state forward on road to progress and prosperity as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. Many congratulations to him," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.
"Also, it has been decided that two Deputy Chief Ministers will be designated to head the new State Government. Shri KV Singh Deo and Smt. Pravati Parida will serve the state as Deputy Chief Minister. Congratulations to them!" he added.
52-year-old Majhi,ba seasoned politician and four-time MLA from Keonjhar, leveraged his extensive public service and organizational expertise to gain an edge in the competition for the top position. Previously serving as the BJP's chief whip in the last assembly, he was the youngest among the leading candidates.
KV Singh Deo, a six-time MLA and former royalty from the princely state of Patna in Bolangir, held a ministerial role in the Naveen Patnaik government for nine years until 2009, during the BJP and Biju Janata Dal alliance.
Pravati Parida is a first-time MLA and she has been made a mark as a social worker of repute in the state.
Selecting the new Chief Minister was a delicate decision for the BJP, marking its first government formation in the coastal state after 24 years of Naveen Patnaik's leadership. The BJP won 78 of the 147 assembly seats in the recently held assembly elections.
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