Cabinet Rejig: Hopes for Srikant Jena, Pradeep Majhi

Editor’s Desk: Odisha has been neglected by the Congress Party in each and every cabinet reshuffle in the past. However, things have changed drastically after Rahul Gandhi has taken over as the Vice President of the party. With six DMK Ministers making an exit, PM Dr, Manmohan Singh is all set to go for a fresh cabinet reshuffle and Odisha may have its share too.

It will be Srikant Jena’s gain, as MK Alagiri lost out in the battle. He had to resign reluctantly, thanks to the pressure from DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, who pulled out from the UPA Government at the Centre. A senior Parliamentarian like Srikant Jena, who had to serve a junior and inexperienced person like Alagiri, thanks to coalition politics. Jena is all set to be elevated to Cabinet rank in the rejig.

There is more good news for young MP Pradeep Majhi, who narrowly missed out on a Ministerial berth last time. A key member of Rahul Gandhi’s youth brigade, Pradeep is all set to become a Minister. It is being done to woo the youth power in Odisha, which feel alienated by the Congress Party at the national level.

While Bhakta Charan Das and Hemananda Biswal are also hopefuls in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, Pradeep Majhi is the front-runner among all. The reshuffle may be held within 3-4 days.