Mohan Majhi to Become Odisha’s First BJP Chief Minister
11.06.2024: Bhubaneshwar, Odisha: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced four-time MLA Mohan Charan Majhi as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. Majhi, a prominent tribal leader, will be the first BJP Chief Minister in the state’s history. This decision follows the elevation of senior state leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram to the Union government.
Joining Majhi in the leadership team are KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, who will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers. The oath ceremony, scheduled for tomorrow, will be graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. PM Modi is also expected to hold a roadshow in Bhubaneshwar en route to the event at Janata Maidan.
Majhi, 52, has a strong political background, having served as an MLA from Keonjhar four times. Known for his public service and organizational skills, Majhi was the chief whip of the BJP in the previous assembly and was the youngest of the frontrunners for the top post.
KV Singh Deo, a six-time MLA and former royal from Patna (princely state) Bolangir, served as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik government for nine years until 2009, during the BJP-BJD alliance. Pravati Parida’s inclusion as a Deputy Chief Minister further strengthens the party’s leadership team.
The BJP’s selection of the new Chief Minister was a strategic move, marking their first time forming a government in Odisha after 24 years of Naveen Patnaik’s rule. The BJP secured 78 of the 147 assembly seats, a significant achievement in the coastal state.
The BJP legislature party finalized the leadership under the supervision of Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who acted as observers sent by the central leadership. Key figures like Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jual Oram also attended the meeting at the state BJP headquarters in Bhubaneshwar.
Tight security measures are in place for tomorrow’s oath ceremony, which will see attendance from several dignitaries, including Union ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.