Odisha's Political Shift: Mohan Charan Majhi Becomes BJP's First CM In The State

Mohan Charan Majhi, a tribal leader and four-time MLA from the BJP, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha today (12 June).

The oath-taking ceremony took place at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar at around 5 pm.

Majhi's appointment marks the BJP's first Chief Minister in the state.

Senior BJP leader and Patnagarh MLA K V Singh Deo and debutant from Nimapara assembly segment Pravati Parida took oath as deputy chief ministers.

Additionally, Prithiviraj Harichandan, Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena and Dr Krushna Chandra Mohapatra also took oath as ministers in the Mohan Majhi-led government.

Other ministers who took oath included Suresh Pujari, Rabinarayan Naik, Nityananda Gond, Krushna Chandra Patra, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Suryabanshi Suraj and Pradeep Balasamanta.

Former Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik also attended the swearing-in ceremony of Majhi.

In the recently concluded state Assembly election, the BJP won 78 of the 147 seats, while the BJD bagged 51 seats.

Earlier in the day, Majhi met former CM Naveen Patnaik and invited him to the swearing-in ceremony. He drove to Naveen Niwas, Patnaik's residence in Bhubaneswar, where he formally extended the invitation.

The Odisha government also announced that its offices in Bhubaneswar will remain closed for from 1 pm on Wednesday in view of the oath-taking ceremony.

Also Read: How The BJP Leadership Zeroed In On Mohan Charan Majhi For The Odisha CM’s Post