Bhubaneswar: Governor Ganeshi Lal Monday administered oath to new ministers who were inducted into the Odisha Cabinet at a ceremony held inside the convention centre of Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar around 10am.
Bhanjanagar MLA Bikram Keshari Arukha, who resigned as the speaker of the assembly last week, and Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak and Bangiriposi legislator Sudam Marandi were inducted into the Cabinet.
The governor, who was on a private visit to his home state of Haryana, returned to Bhubaneswar Sunday, a day ahead of the event.
Last week, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Labour Minister Srikant Sahu had resigned. No appointment was also made in place of Health Minister Naba Kishore Das, who was assassinated in January.
Odisha’s cabinet can have 22 ministers, including the Chief Minister, but at present, it has 19 ministers.
The additional charge of School and Mass Education, and Labour Departments was given to Revenue Minister Pramila Mallik. Earlier, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari was given the additional charge of the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Speculations are running high for the allocation of Speaker post to the Odisha Assembly. Sources suggest that a woman leader might get appointed as a Speaker. In such a case, the state would get its first woman Speaker to the Assembly. However, no official confirmation has come in this regard.
PNN & Agencies