Mohan Charan Majhi, a seasoned tribal leader and four-time MLA, was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of Odisha on Wednesday, marking a significant political shift in the state. The ceremony, held at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar, was graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Majhi's appointment as CM marks a historic moment for the BJP in Odisha.
Accompanying Majhi were deputy chief ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, along with ministers Prithiviraj Harichandan, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, and Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, among others. The oath-taking was officiated by Odisha Governor Raghubar Das.
The event was a grand affair, attended by top BJP leaders including PM Modi, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, JP Nadda, Bhupender Yadav, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram, and Ashwini Vaishnaw. Notably, Naveen Patnaik, who held power in Odisha for 24 years, graciously attended the ceremony after being invited by Majhi earlier in the day.
In his congratulatory message on social media, PM Modi hailed the occasion as historic for Odisha. He commended Majhi for assuming the role of Chief Minister and extended his wishes to the newly appointed Deputy CMs and other ministers.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the BJP's triumph in the recently concluded Assembly elections, ending the long-standing rule of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik. With 78 seats out of 147, the BJP emerged victorious, while the BJD secured 51 seats, Congress 14, CPI(M) 1, and Independents 3.
Majhi expressed his commitment to initiating government work within the first 100 days, focusing on fulfilling the promises outlined in the BJP's manifesto. The event was also graced by the presence of chief ministers from various BJP-ruled states, symbolizing solidarity and support for Odisha's new leadership.
