Mohan Charan Majhi, four-time MLA and tribal leader, will take the oath of office as Chief Minister of Odisha on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. The BJP on Tuesday, June 11, staked claim to form a government in the State after the party’s MLAs-elect unanimously elected Mr. Majhi the BJP Legislature Party leader.
This is the first time the BJP is forming a government in the State on its own after the saffron party’s arrival in Odisha in the mid-1980s. It won 78 seats in the 147-member Assembly. The party has received letters of support from three Independent MLAs. The Biju Janata Dal has won 51 seats and the Congress 14. One seat went to the CPI(M).
The week-long speculation surrounding the BJP’s chief ministerial pick reached its pinnacle when Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of Environment and Forest Bhupender Yadav, central observers, landed in Bhubaneswar in the afternoon.
After holding hectic parleys with senior leaders including MPs and MLAs, Mr. Singh announced Mr. Majhi’s name at the party office.
The four-time MLA of Keonjhar, accompanied by Union Ministers and other party leaders, proceeded to the Raj Bhavan and met Governor Raghubar Das.
Mr. Majhi, a prominent tribal face, was the BJP’s chief whip in the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly. Veteran BJP leaders — K.V. Singh Deo, six-time MLA from Patnagarh Assembly constituency, and Pravati Parida, first time MLA from Nimapara Assembly segment — will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.
“4.5 crore people have voted BJP to power to bring transformation and fight corruption. I acknowledge their support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is loved by all Odias, had exuded confidence that the government would change and the BJP would come to power. It has come true,” said the CM-designate.
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Mr. Majhi said, “The new government will fulfil all promises made in party manifesto.” Soon after his election, congratulatory messages poured in from all quarters.
Meanwhile, preparations for the swearing-in of the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues were in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the ceremony scheduled at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar at 5 p.m.
Chief Ministers of several BJP-ruled States, Union Ministers and top BJP leaders are expected to attend. The State government has cancelled leaves all government officials till June 30 in view of possible new programmes that may be launched.
Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, along with past presidents, invited outgoing Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik to attend the oath-taking ceremony. According to them, Mr. Patnaik has given his consent.
Three newly elected BJP MLAs went to the Jagannath Temple in Puri for extending a customary invitation to the Lord.
