Naveen Patnaik assigns 50 BJD MLAs to keep close watch on BJP government

NEW DELHI: The former chief minister of Odisha and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, has allocated different departments to the 50 MLAs of his party on Wednesday, who will closely monitor the activities of their assigned departments and raise issues pertaining to the departments in the state assembly, aiming to counter the irregularities by the BJP government.

A letter issued by the party read, "The following departments are allotted to the Hon'ble MLAs of BJD for close monitoring, Assembly interventions and other issues relating to the departments."

Ranendra Pratap Swain, a former minister and the current MLA from Athgarh, will be responsible for monitoring the revenue and disaster management department. The women and child development department will be under the supervision of Badri Narayan Patra, the MLA from Ghasipura.

Pramila Mallik, a senior leader who previously served as the speaker has been tasked with overseeing the Panchayati raj & drinking water and parliamentary affairs departments. He was chosen to be the chief whip of the opposition in the assembly.

Whereas other notable assignments include Braja Kishore Pradhan monitoring the health & family welfare department, Prasanna Acharya overseeing the finance & public enterprises department, and Arun Kumar Sahoo keeping an eye on the water resources department.

In the current state assembly, the BJD has a strong presence with 51 MLAs, including the leader of the opposition Naveen Patnaik and Prasanna Acharya, a senior MLA, appointed as the deputy leader of the opposition.

The BJD, which had governed Odisha for the past 24 years, was defeated by BJP in the recent assembly elections. Mohan Charan Majhi assumed the role of CM on June 12 after elections results were announced on June 4.

The upcoming session of the Odisha Assembly is scheduled to commence on July 22.
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