BHUBANESWAR: The speculation over possible ministry reshuffle in Odisha has gained momentum with Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Friday hinting at changes in the council of ministers. “Let such proposals come. We’ll certainly consider it,” the Chief Minister said upon his arrival here from his seven-day New Delhi trip. Sources said the Chief Minister who is now in great shock after party’s poor performance in the recently held rural polls is not happy with half a dozen ministers who failed to ensure victory of party candidates in their respective constituencies.
Besides, Mr Naveen Patn-aik is likely to drop some of the ministers whose names have figured in the chit fund scam and other scandals. The rural or panchayat poll exercise which concluded early this month saw the BJD losing nearly 174 Zilla Parishad in comparison to its 2012 tally of 657 seats where as the BJP rising unprecedentedly from 38 seats in 2012 to 297 seats, jumping overnight to second position in the state politics.
Naveen Patnaik, according to sources close to him, is spending sleepless nights after the rural poll debacles. By effecting a reshuffle, the CM who is known for his unprecedented moves, might incorporate some fresh faces to regain the confidence of voters.
