Odisha To Get New Lokayukta Soon, Selection Process Underway: Minister
The first meeting of the selection mechanism had already been held and expressed confidence that the appointment would be completed shortly: Mr Pujari
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is likely to get a new Lokayukta soon, with the process to appoint the State’s anti-corruption ombudsman already underway, revenue minister Suresh Pujari said on Tuesday.
Mr Pujari said the first meeting of the selection mechanism had already been held and expressed confidence that the appointment would be completed shortly.
According to the minister, the selection is made through a prescribed committee comprising the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Leader of Opposition (LoP). Decisions are taken on the basis of a majority.
“With the first meeting held, the process has already begun and it will reach its completion. The Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the LoP decide on the selection process. This is decided on the basis of a majority. We hope that in the coming days, Odisha will see a new Lokayukta,” Mr Pujari said.
His remarks came amid criticism from the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the alleged delay in appointing a successor to the previous Lokayukta.
Rejecting the Opposition’s criticism, Mr Pujari sought to turn the issue into a comparison between the tenure of the BJD government, which ruled Odisha for 24 years, and the BJP government that came to power in 2024.
“Did the Opposition (BJD) not see a delay of 24 years? Do they see a delay of two years? Ask them, is 24 years a longer time or is two years longer?” he said.
Taking a further swipe at the BJD, the minister added: “I think they feel that two years is a very, very long delay. With the way they are being restless after being out of power, two years must feel like two centuries to them.”
Mr Pujari also claimed that the BJP government had achieved in two years what the previous government could not accomplish during its 24-year tenure.
“What you (the BJD government) could not do in 24 years, this government has done in two years. What we (the Mohan Majhi government) will do in five years, you will never be able to imagine in life,” he said.
