New Odisha cabinet to take oath today, at least 6 new faces expected

For the first time in Odisha’s history, all the ministers were directed to quit so that CM Naveen Patnaik should reshuffle his ministry before the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2024. The new cabinet will be sworn in on Sunday, June 5.

A new cabinet is to be sworn in on Sunday in Odisha, after all the ministers in the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD ministry resigned a day before to allow the chief minister to reshuffle his ministry.

Patnaik, who recently completed 23 years in office, apparently wants to give a new look to his ministry before the 2024 elections to the Lok Sabha and Assembly, say analysts.

This is the first time in the political history of Odisha that all ministers were directed to quit.

Sources in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said that more than six of the 20 ministers who resigned are likely to be dropped from the new ministry.

Governor Ganeshi Lal has been informed about the oath-taking ceremony which will be held on Sunday, June 5 at the state secretariat, the Lok Seva Bhavan.

“The new ministers will take the oath of office at 11.45 am at a function to be held at the Convention Centre on the premises of the Lok Seva Bhavan on Sunday,” said a highly placed source in the Raj Bhavan.

Sources said that all ministers submitted their resignation letters to Patnaik before 7 pm on Saturday, following which some of the would-be ministers received phone calls to remain prepared for the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday.