Bhubaneswar
The BJP on Tuesday (June 11) picked its four-time MLA from Keonjhar and a Santhal tribal Mohan Charan Manjhi as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. The BJP ended Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) 24-year rule in the recent Assembly elections.
A relatively unknown face, the 52-year-old Majhi will be sworn in on June 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the swearing-in. Sources said Modi is expected to hold a roadshow in Bhubaneshwar on his way to the Janata Maidan, the venue.
The BJP also picked KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida as the two Deputy Chief Ministers to assist Majhi.
Majhi, who will be the first BJP Odisha CM since the State came into existence, started his political innings as a Sarapanch from 1997 till 2000, when he was first elected to the Odisha Assembly from Keonjhar. He has continued to represent the constituency since then. Majhi was the government Deputy Chief Whip from 2005 till 2009 when the BJP and the BJD ran a coalition government.
Majhi was the surprise pick after PM Modi drafted two other CM contenders Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram in his Cabinet. While Pradhan retained the Education Ministry, Oram returned as the Tribal Affairs Minister after a 5-year gap.
Known for his organisational skills, Majhi, a law graduate from Dhenkanal Law College, defeated BJD’s Mina Majhi by a margin of 11,577 votes. Majhi’s selection also indicates that Modi’s tribal outreach continues despite the BJP winning six Lok Sabha ST seats less than in 2019, when it had won 31 seats of the total 47 ST seats. On the other hand, the Congress increased its tally to 13 ST seats in 2024, nine more than the last time around.
The BJP legislature party selected the names in the presence of Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav, who were sent as observers by the Central leadership. Union Ministers from the State Ashwini Vaishnaw and Oram also attended the meeting.
“Delighted to announce that Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi has been elected unanimously as the leader of Odisha BJP Legislature Party. He is a young and dynamic party karyakarta who will take the state forward on road to progress and prosperity as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. Many congratulations to him,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
