Odisha Cabinet Reshuffle Expected as Assembly Speaker and Two Ministers Resign

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha and two other Odisha Ministers, School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash and Labour Minister Srikant Sahu, tender their resignation resigned from their post on Friday, May 12, 2023.

The 60-year-old Arukha from BJD has been serving as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha since June 2022.

Speculations are rife that Arukha might be inducted into the state cabinet as a minister. In a press statement, he expressed his gratitude towards the people of Odisha and his colleagues for their support during his tenure as the Speaker.

Soon after, Samir Ranjan Dash, who was in charge of the School & Mass Education portfolio, and Srikant Sahu, the Labour Minister, also resigned on Friday.

Dash’s resignation has come as a surprise to many, as he was seen as a key member of the state government. The reasons for his resignation are not yet clear.

Meanwhile, Sahu’s resignation is believed to be linked to recent developments in the state’s labour sector. He has been under pressure from various labour unions and opposition parties to step down from his post.

The resignations of the two ministers have created a stir in political circles, and there is speculation about possible cabinet reshuffles in the near future. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is expected to make an official announcement soon.

With the resignation of Bikram Keshari Arukha, the post of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Odisha is now vacant. It remains to be seen who will be appointed as the new Speaker of the House.