Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik kept key departments like home, general administration, works, forest and environment and water resources with himself while reshuffling the portfolios of ministers whom he retained from his previous cabinet.
Only two ministers retained their portfolios which were allotted to the newly inducted ministers late last night. Prafulla Ghdai, who became the first incumbent finance minister to win back to back assembly elections, retained his portfolio. In addition, he has been vested with the charge of excise department.
Similarly, the portfolio of woman and child welfare minister Pramila Mallick, the only woman cabinet minister in the Naveen's new team, has remained unchanged.
While, three important departments like industries, steel and mines along the parliamentary affairs department went to Raghunath Mohanty, senior BJD leader and party's secretary general, Damodar Rout was allotted agriculture, co-operation, fishing and animal husbandry departments.
Prasanna Acharya was given health and family welfare, in addition to pension and public grievances department.
Prafulla Samal was allotted panchayati raj along with information and public relations (I&PR) departments while former energy, IT and culture minister Surya Narayan Patro got revenue and disaster management portfolio.
Bikram Keshari Arukh, who won the last assembly election with a record margin, has been given rural development and law department
Former works and housing minister Ananga Udaya Singh Deo was given rather insignificant planning and coordination along with public enterprise department.
Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha, a new face in the cabinet, has been made the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe development minister while former tourism and excise minister, Debi Prasad Mishra was allotted higher education, tourism and culture departments.
Sanjeeb Sahu, the former minister for school and mass education minister was allotted commerce and transport. His status as minister of state remains unchanged.
The prestigious energy department has been allotted to the journalist turned politician Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. Sarada Prasad Nayak got food and civil supplies while Pushpendra Singhdeo will be in charge of labour and employment department. All the ministers of state, except Sahu, are new faces in the ministry.
