Sourabha Kumar Parida
Bhubaneswar, June 7: Though the BJP is yet to finalise the new Chief Minister face for Odisha, MLAs-elect have started lobbying for ministerial berths in the cabinet through various channels, according to party sources.
A proposal on selection of the new Chief Minister for Odisha may be put today before the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi and it will take the final call in this regard within the next two days, said party insiders.
The BJP Parliamentary Board is empowered to decide chief minister candidate for states. The party has already started process for formation of its new government in Odisha. The Parliamentary Board will discuss about the new Chief Minister for Odisha on Friday or Saturday, said Delhi BJP source.
The meeting will finalise the date to hold BJP Legislature Party meet and the name of observer for Odisha. The observer will come to Bhubaneswar along with Odisha BJP in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar. The Odisha BJP Legislature Party will meet on June 8 or 9.
On the other hand, over 30 veteran and newly elected fire-brand youth leaders of the party have eyed ministerial berths in the cabinet. They have already started lobbying through various channels. However, the party is yet to decide which method it will adopt to distribute ministry portfolios.
BJP veterans like Mohan Charan Majhi, Rabi Narayan Naik, Sanatan Bijuli, Padmalochan Panda, Prithviraj Harichandan, Krushna Chandra Patra, Mukesh Mahaling and Bhaskar Madhei are the frontrunners for ministerial berths.
Besides, giant killer Laxman Bag, who defeated Naveen Patnaik in Kantabanjhi, Suryabanshi Suraj and Babu Singh are in limelight after their landslide victory in Odisha.
On the other hand, Prashant Jagdev, Sidhanta Mohapatra and Purna Chandra Sethi who played a major role in BJP's electoral fight coming from BJD are also in the race.
The names of women leaders of the party, Surama Padhy, Pravati Parida, Simarani Nayak and tribal leader Sanjali Murmu are also doing rounds.
The BJP is considering on two heavy weights for the Speaker and Chief Whip posts due to presence of strong opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly.
