SAMBALPUR: The phenomenal rise of Snehangini Chhuria, the new face in Naveen Patnaik’s Ministry, from a school teacher to a Minister is nothing sort of incredible. The journey from a nondescript school building to the State’s Legislative Assembly has been eventful for the Minister of Textiles, Handloom and Handicrafts.
A Post-Graduate in Political Science from Sambalpur University, Chhuria completed her BEd from Parsuram Mishra Institute of Advanced Studies in Education in Sambalpur. She began her career as a teacher in Adagoan Girl’s High School in 1995. However, the politician in her saw her quit the Government job and jump into politics in 1997. She contested in the Panchayat polls and became the Samiti Member of Talmenda gram panchayat. Fighting her way up, she went on to become the Block Chairman of Bheden.
After a brief stint in politics, Chhuria served as the Gram Panchayat Extension Officer from 2002 to 2009. However, she could not resist the calling of her first love - politics - and quit the job in 2009. She bagged the BJD ticket to contest as MLA candidate from the reserved Attabira Assembly segment in 2009. Chhuria was, however, defeated by Congress candidate and former MLA Nihar Ranjan Mahanand.
Following her defeat, she was made the Expert Member of WODC, Member of State Planning Board and State Vice-President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal.
Chhuria’s meteoric rise and popularity earned her both admirers and enemies within the local party unit. She came in the eye of a storm after her opposition to party heavyweight Prasanna Acharya who hails from the same region.
She was treated as a threat to senior party leaders of the region for which she had to face stiff opposition from within the party. However, a determined Chhuria fought her way up and strengthened her support base at grassroots level.
Her hard work paid off as she was given BJD ticket again to contest in 2014 elections from Attabira segment. Chhuria defeated her nearest rival Mahananda of Congress by a massive margin of 25,474 votes.
Bargarh, which is known as the cradle of handloom in the State, is likely to benefit from Chhuria’s new role. Her ministerial berth has raised aspiration among the weaver community of the district.
Chhuria is married to Secretary of Regulated Market Committee in Bargarh Durga Prasad of Dekulba village in Bheden block.