As per a statement released by Raj Bhavan, Mohan Majhi, the recently elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in Odisha, met with Governor Raghubar Das on Tuesday and asserted his right to form the government of the state.

He gave Raghubar Das a letter in which he declared the backing of 81 MLAs, comprising 74 BJP lawmakers and three Independents.

He was invited by the governor to establish the government.

"The Governor has appointed Shri Mohan Charan Majhi as the Chief Minister. The new Council of Ministers, along with two Deputy Chief Ministers, headed by Shri Mohan Charan Majhi will be sworn-in at the Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar at 4.55 PM on 12.6.2024," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.

Mohan Majhi
Image Source: Facebook

Following the removal of senior state leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram from the Union administration, the BJP chose Mohan Charan Manjhi, a four-time MLA and the party's tribal face, as the next Chief Minister of Odisha. Manjhi is relatively unknown. KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida have been selected by the party to be Mr. Manjhi's deputies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be present at the oath ceremony tomorrow. On his route to the Janata Maidan, the location, PM Modi is anticipated to have a roadshow in Bhubaneshwar.

In the contest for the top position, Mr. Majhi, 52, a four-term MLA from Keonjhar, benefited from his experience as a politician and his ability to organise and serve the public, according to insiders. He was the youngest among the front-runners and the main whip of the BJP in the previous assembly.

Mr. Deo, a former royal from Bolangir's Patna (princely state), is a six-time MLA. He served as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik administration for nine years until 2009, when the Biju Janata Dal and the BJP formed an alliance.

First-time MLA Pravati Parida, 57, has been a member of the party for the past 28 years. She led the state BJP women's wing from 2016 to 2022 and served as the party's vice president from 2022 to 2024.

After 24 years of Naveen Patnaik's leadership, the BJP is forming government in the coastal state for the first time, therefore choosing the next chief minister was a difficult decision. However, the state had shown confidence in the BJP, awarding it 78 of the 147 assembly seats. 51 seats went to the BJP.

Under the observation of Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who were sent by the Central leadership, the BJP parliamentary party chose the names this evening.

The gathering, which took place at the state BJP headquarters in Bhubaneshwar, was also attended by important figures and Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jual Oram.

The oath ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow, and strict security has been arranged. It is anticipated that a number of dignitaries will attend the event, including chief ministers of states ruled by the BJP and union ministers.

You might also be interested in - Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik resigns, BJP to form the new government