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New Faces, New Roles: Meet Odisha's Cabinet Ministers of 2024
June 2024 marked a pivotal moment in Odisha's political history as the state witnessed a significant shift from the 24-year rule of the Biju Janata Dal to the formation of the BJP's first government under the leadership of senior tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi. Governor Raghubar Das administered the oath to Majhi, a four-time MLA from Keonjhar, who became Odisha’s 16th chief minister and the third from the tribal community after Giridhar Gamango and Hemananda Biswal. In addition to Majhi, KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida were appointed as deputy chief ministers among the 15 ministers in the new ministry. The new team includes eight cabinet-ranked ministers: Suresh Pujari from Brajrajnagar, Rabinarayan Nayak from Kuchinda, Nityananda Gond from Umerkote, Krushna Chandra Patra from Dhenkanal, Pruthiviraj Harichandan from Chilika, Mukesh Mahaling from Loisingha, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena from Gopalpur, and Krishna Chandra Mahapatra from Morada. Five ministers with independent charge include Ganesh Ramsing Khuntia from Jashipur, Suryabanshi Suraj from Dhamnagar, Pradeep Bal Samanta from Sukinda, Gokulananda Mallik from Polsara, and Sampad Chandra Swain from Paradip.
Mohan Charan Majhi (CM)
The journey of Mohan Charan Majhi, the chief minister-elect for Odisha from the Saffron Party (BJP), from a Guruji in Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir in a remote village of Keonjhar district to Raj Bhawan, was arduous. Despite its challenges, he has consistently stood by the public as their representative. Shortly after being chosen as CM, his approach towards the public could earn him the title of the people’s CM. CM Mohan Charan Majhi hails from the small village of Railekela in Keonjhar district. His father, Guna Ram Majhi, worked as a school peon, and he grew up in a family of five, including one sister and one brother. Due to insufficient earnings, his father also taught at Saraswati Sishu Mandir during Mohan's early years. Mohan Majhi pursued his education, completing his MA from Allahabad University and earning a law degree from Bhadrak Law College. His political journey began in 1992 when he first contested as a Samiti Sabhya from Raikela Panchayat, although without success. To support his family, he later joined as a teacher at Saraswati Shishu Mandir School in Jhumpura, Keonjhar district. Despite his teaching responsibilities, Mohan Majhi remained committed to politics and achieved his first political victory in 1997 as Sarpanch. Since then, Mohan Majhi has continued to advance in his political career. In 2004, he secured his first MLA victory from the Keonjhar Sadar constituency, a seat that BJP has retained with his consecutive wins four times. Regarding his victorious journey, Mohan Majhi remarked, “I have never fought for victory; rather, I have always fought for the people and their rights. Coming from a poor family, I could connect with their problems, and it is this connection that resonated with the people. For me, public welfare is the foremost concern.”
In a first for the state government, two deputy CMs have been appointed. Both Prabhati Parida and Kanakbardhan Singhdeo are highly skilled individuals with over a decade of experience in active politics.
Pravati Parida (Deputy CM)
Pravati Parida is the most prominent face of state politics and is mostly known for her straightforward statements. She has served about 22 years in active politics, and in 2024, she won a grand victory against the BJD from Nimapada. Earlier, it was a BJD stronghold, but in this election, Pravati Parida secured victory by a huge margin. Her significant win could make her the first deputy CM of Puri district, and she is also the state's first deputy CM. Pravati Parida was born in Cuttack, in the small village of Nivaran in Niali. She was very close to her father, Shivant Parida, so instead of sending her to a big school, as her entire family wanted, her father enrolled her in their village's Nivaran school. She then pursued her studies at Nuhat Higher School for upper classes. Gradually, she moved to Nimapada, where she completed her higher secondary education and graduated from the same college. In 1995, she completed her law degree from Utkal University, after which her life took a turn towards politics. Later on, she pursued her practice at the high court, where she learned about issues of public interest, which led her into politics. Understanding public issues, she saw politics as a wide canvas to help people in a broader way. That is how she started her political journey in her own block, Niali. In 2002, she began her political career in the Niali block, but her first attempt that year was unsuccessful, and she was defeated. From 2003 to 2009, she served on the Social Welfare Board commission. Afterward, she contested the assembly seat from Nimapada as an independent candidate, as she did not receive a ticket from the BJP that year. Although she did not win that election, her performance could not be ignored, leading to the party offering her a ticket again for the assembly seat in 2014 and 2019. However, she faced strong opposition from the BJD in both elections. Yet in 2024, she showed confidence by deciding to contest the election again, convincing the party to give her a ticket. This time, she won the election with a 4,000-vote margin against BJD candidate Dillip Nayak. As a result, she was chosen to serve as the deputy CM in the new saffron government. Currently, she not only holds the position of deputy CM but also oversees three major departments of the state government: Women and Child Welfare, Mission Shakti, and Tourism.
Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Deputy CM)
Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, known as the king of Patanagarha, was born on June 14, 1956, in Patnagarh into a royal family. His father, Raj Raj Singh Deo, was also a politician who served as a member of the 4th and 5th Lok Sabha from the Bolangir Constituency as a member of the Swatantra Party. Kanakbardhan completed his graduation from Delhi University. After his studies, he embarked on a tour of multiple countries. Upon returning, he expressed his desire to enter state politics, believing he could contribute to the state's development on a larger scale. In 1995, he was elected as an MLA for the first time. He subsequently won six consecutive terms to the assembly. From 2000 to 2004, he served as a cabinet minister, overseeing departments such as industry and handicraft. From 2004 to 2009, he held the position of Urban Development and MSME Minister. Additionally, he has held numerous important roles within the saffron party. Apart from politics, Kanakbardhan has a keen interest in sports such as basketball and cricket. He is also passionate about wildlife conservation. During his leisure time, he enjoys meeting people and indulging in his love for music. Additionally, he actively participates in social work and holds a membership at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Apart from the CM and Deputy CM, 13 winning MLAs have been appointed to ministries overseeing various departments. Each of these 13 members represents a different district of the state. Notably, there are 8 newcomers who have entered the state assembly for the first time. The new ministry comprises 8 cabinet ministers and 5 ministers with independent charge. Additionally, 6 more ministers are yet to be appointed, adhering to the rule that mandates a total of 21 ministers excluding the CM.
Suresh Pujari (Revenue & Disaster Management)
The Brajrajnagar MLA, Suresh Pujari, has been assigned a cabinet post overseeing two crucial ministries: Revenue and Disaster Management. Mr. Pujari is renowned as one of the veteran leaders in state politics. In the recent election, he contested against BJD candidate Pujari was born in Tora village, Baragraha district, and after completing his schooling in Bargarh district, he pursued higher studies, ultimately earning his law degree from LR Law College. His political journey began during his academic years, and he notably served as the student union president of Sambalpur University in 1980-81. Transitioning into mainstream politics, he held various significant positions: Chairperson of Sambalpur Municipality in 1992, member of the State Pollution Board the same year, and later a member of the State Planning Board from 2004 to 2006. He also took on the role of Tripura Observer for his party, along with numerous other political responsibilities throughout his career. Notably, he was elected as the president of the State BJP from 2000 to 2003 and served as the MP of Bargarh district from 2019 to 2024. While his ministerial appointment this year marks a significant milestone, his enduring presence in state politics has been notable for decades.
Prithiviraj Harichandan (Law, Works, Excise)
Pruthibiraj Harichandan is one of the most prominent faces of BJP. His father Biswabhushan Harichandan is also a veteran leader of Odisha, now he is the governor of Chhattisgarh. Pruthibiraj belongs to a political family, not only his father but his grandfather was the cabinet minister. Though he was active in politics, after his uncle (His father’s younger brother) he took the responsibility of his constituency Chillika. Then in the last election of 2019 for the first time he contested with a BJP ticket but he failed to win the battle. Later on the party has given him some political posts. In this election Pruthibiraj got a ticket for the second time from BJP and won by 4455 votes from the BJD candidate Raghunath Sahu.
Though he won for the first time, the party has huge confidence in him and in this new industry he was given 3 major departments like works department, excise and law department.
Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra (Housing & Urban Development, Public Enterprises)
Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra is a newly elected MLA from Morada who has been appointed to the cabinet ministry in the new state BJP team. Born in the small village of Similibandha in Khunta, Mayurbhanj, in 1970, Krushna Chandra completed his schooling in Baripada. He pursued his higher education, obtaining a postgraduate degree in BAMS and later in Law from Mayurbhanj. During his academic years, he was actively involved in student politics and joined ABVP in 1995. After completing his higher studies, he joined mainstream politics with BJP and assumed the role of BJP district general secretary. His effective leadership led to his appointment as district president for two terms, during which he successfully built a robust organizational structure from the grassroots level. In 2017, under his leadership, BJP secured an impressive 49 out of 54 Zilla Parishad seats in his district, setting a new record. Despite a defeat in the 2019 elections against BJD candidate Raj Kishor Das for the Morada constituency, he persevered. In the latest election, he contested against former MLA's wife, Preeti Nanda Kanungo, and achieved a significant victory. Recognizing his achievement, he has been entrusted with the Urban Development and Housing Ministry.
Krushna Chandra Patra (Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare, Science & Technology)
The veteran BJP leader Krushna Chandra has brought honor to Dhenkanal after 29 years by becoming a minister. He is an active member of RSS, having joined during his law school days. Following his academic pursuits, he began his career as a professor at a private college, all the while maintaining his dedication to the party. In 1995, he contested his first election with BJP but was unsuccessful. From 2000 to 2004, he contested again from Gandia and won that year's election. However, he faced defeat in the subsequent four elections. In the latest election, he contested against Sudhir Samal and secured victory with a margin of 20 thousand votes. He has held several important party positions and served as the state OCBC president for an extended period. Following his impressive victory, he now serves as the Minister of Food Supply, Science, and Technology in the new government team.
Rabi Narayan Naik: (Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water)
Rabi Nayak has set a history for Cuchinda constituency. Born in 1970 in Khan Kota village of Kuchinda, he began his primary education at Kunda Kota School and completed his high school at Hadipali Panchayat High School. Despite being a good student, he did not opt for a city for his higher studies and graduated from Company University. After his graduation, he became active in politics and public service. Rabi was not only a good student but also an accomplished football player, achieving positions in many inter-college and interstate competitions.
His father, Dasarath Nayak, was a performer of folk events to manage his livelihood. Despite significant financial issues, Rabi remained committed to public service. His active involvement in social work led his party to select him to contest for the assembly seat.
Rabi was elected for the first time from 2002 to 2004, but did not recieve any ministry during that period. He contested the election again in 2009 but failed to secure the seat as Congress won the Kuchinda assembly seat. This time, he won the election with a huge majority and his performance earned him a position in the government, becoming a minister in the Mohan Majhi team.
Nityananda Gond (School & Mass Education, ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities)
Nityananda Gond hails from Chitrakote village in Nabarangpur District, born into a poor farming family. Due to lack of educational facilities in his village, he moved to Umerkote for further studies. He completed his graduation from Pendrani University and pursued law at Jaipur University, later also earning a postgraduate degree in history. Initially practicing law, he transitioned into politics by contesting the 11th ward of Umerkote in 2003, demonstrating his grassroots organizational skills. In 2014, despite initial setbacks, he secured a significant victory with a surplus of 10,000 votes. This success repeated in the latest election, earning him another substantial win from his constituency and a Cabinet Ministry post in the new ministry.
Bibhuti Bhushan Jena (Commerce & Transport, Steel & Mines)
Bibhuti Bhushan Jena is widely recognized as a pro-people leader from Golanthara in Ganjam. Since 2009, he has contested from the BJP ticket for the assembly seat over four terms. Despite facing defeat three times, he has consistently maintained his determination to contest elections. In 2024, he was elected as MLA for the fourth time and appointed to the ministry in Mohan Majhi’s new team. He began his career with the RSS. His notable involvement in the anti-alcohol movement endeared him to the local populace, leading to his election as the Sarpanch of his village in 1996. Stepping further into politics, he was appointed as the BJP state leader in 2002. From 2007 to 2013, he served as the youth president of the state BJP. In 2013, he was appointed as the Ganjam District President of the State BJP.
Dr. Mukesh Mahaling (Health & Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics & Information Technology)
Dr. Mukesh Mahaling is another new face in this ministry and a prominent figure in the state BJP. Known not only for his organizational capacity but also for his social activism even before entering politics. Mahaling began his educational journey in Saintala block, completing his primary education there before graduating from Padmapur. Initially employed with the Pollution Control Board, his life took a turn when he organized a free health camp in Luis Singha, providing health check-ups and medications to the public. This experience ignited his passion for social work, leading him to leave his government job for public service, eventually entering politics with the BJP in 2019. Elected as MLA in both 2019 and 2024 on BJP's ticket, he has now secured a ministry in the new government lineup.
Pradeep Bal Samanta (Co-operation, Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts)
Pradeep Bal Samanta has become an MLA for the first time. He hails from a landlord family in Sukinda, known for their historical acts of bravery. Pradeep completed his schooling at Sukinda High School and pursued higher studies at Colombo International University. His family was honored with the title "Bal Samanta" by the former King due to their courageous deeds.After the abolition of the landlord culture, his grandfather became the first Sarpanch in their Panchayat. He remained actively involved in politics for 25 years. From 2002 to 2007, he served as the Zilla Parishad member for Zone 38. In 2014, he contested for the assembly seat independently from Sukinda but did not succeed in his first attempt. In 2019, BJP gave him a ticket for the Sukinda assembly seat, but he also did not succeed in that election. However, 2024 proved to be a successful year for him as he received a ticket and was elected by the public of Sukinda.
Suryabanshi Suraj (Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, Odia Language Literature & Culture)
Suryabanshi Suraj is the son of the late former MLA of Dhamnagar, Vishnu Sethi. Suryabanshi attended Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Bhadrak Nuabazar for his schooling. After completing high school, he moved to Bhubaneswar and pursued a B.Tech degree. He has completed his post-graduation in law. After completing his higher studies, he worked for a multinational company in Belgium before returning to India to pursue his professional career in Hyderabad. Eventually, he joined Dhamra Port as a civil engineer. However, following his father's passing in 2022, driven by his interest in public service and party politics, he entered mainstream politics. He contested and won the by-election for the Dhamnagar seat, becoming the youngest MLA in the state at the age of twenty-seven. In this election, he secured victory by 8095 votes over the BJD candidate, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Das. Today, he holds the distinction of being the youngest minister in the team.
Sampad Chandra Swain (Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education)
Sampad Chandra Swain has also been elected for the first time from the Paradeep seat, which was one of the most hotly contested seats in the 2024 election. Despite facing stiff competition, he secured victory with a significant margin, making him eligible for a ministerial position. At 38 years old, Sampad completed his MBA degree in 2009 and started working in a private company. However, during a recession period, he returned to Paradeep and witnessed firsthand the issues faced by the general public. Interacting with many people during this time, he decided to enter politics to better serve them. He joined the BJP Party before the 2019 election and received a party ticket for the Paradeep seat. In that election, he secured third position with 35,000 votes. Despite this setback, he remained committed to social work, notably through the popular program 'Mo Paribar'. In the 2024 election, Sampad Swain won decisively with a 15,000-vote margin over his opponent Gitanjali Routray.
Gokulananda Mallick (Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises)
Gokulananda Mallick hails from a humble farmer family background. After completing his education, he ventured into entrepreneurship to support his family. His long standing interest in politics led him to join mainstream politics in 2011 with the Congress party. He contested for the position of Samiti Sabhya and won the election, subsequently becoming Block Chairman in 2012. In 2019, Gokulananda made a significant political shift by joining the BJP. Although he narrowly lost that election, he persisted and fought strongly in the recent election, winning by a substantial margin of 20,000 votes. This impressive victory earned him the distinction of becoming Buguda's first minister.
Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia (Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Labour & Employees State Insurance)
Ganesh Ram has been elected twice as MLA from the Jashipur Assembly seat. Although he hails from Similipal Balarampur village, he tragically lost his parents at a young age, prompting him to move to a hostel to continue his studies. He persevered through higher education while simultaneously working to support himself. His dedication led him to enter politics, prompting him to leave his job. He contested for the first time from the Jashipur seat and emerged victorious. Under his leadership, significant development initiatives have been implemented, culminating in an overwhelming victory in 2024 with 34,666 votes.
