Indus Valley Times

KV Singhdeo, Prabhati Parida named Dy CMs

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, June 11: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday sprang a surprise as it chose Mohan Charan Majhi as the new chief minister of Odisha.

Majhi, 52, is a four-time MLA from Keonjhar assembly seat. Hailing from the Santhal tribal community, Majhi is known for his uncompromising stand against corruption and nepotism.

He was the Opposition Chief Whip in the recently dissolved Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, MLA from Patnagarh in Western Odisha and Prabhati Parida, a legislator from Nimapara in coastal Puri district, — were chosen as Deputy Chief Ministers of Odisha.

Majhi along with two deputies will take oath of office on Wednesday evening at a grand ceremony to be held at Janata Maidan here. Prime Minister Narendra, home minister Amit Shah, chief ministers of many BJP-ruled states and several Union ministers will join the swearing-in ceremony as special guests.

Majhi’s name as the new CM of Odisha was announced by Union minister Rajnath Singh after an hour of consultation with the newly elected MLAs. Singh along with Union Bhupendra Yadav were deputed by the party’s central leadership to Odisha to oversee election of the new leader of the BJP Legislature Party (BJPLP).

Hailing from a rustic background, Majhi started his political career as a Sarpanch. He was elected to Odisha Legislative Assembly from Keonjhar in 2000, 2004, 2019 and 2024.

“Due to the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the BJP has achieved a majority in Odisha and is going to form the government in the State. I would like to thank the 4.5 crore Odias who decided to vote for a change and bring the BJP to power in Odisha. The BJP will definitely honour the trust that the people of Odisha have shown,” said Odisha CM-designate, Mohan Majhi.

On June 4, the BJP secured a majority by winning 78 seats in the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly. It also bagged 20 of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Though names of some stalwarts like Dharmendra Pradhan, Suresh Pujari, Girish Murmu and BJP state president Manmohan Samal were doing the rounds for the coveted post, sources said Majhi was carefully picked up by the party’s central leadership keeping in view the large presence of tribal communities in the state.

Odisha, according to the 2011 census, has 22.85 per cent tribal population.