BHUBANESWAR: The buzz over an impending reshuffle in the ministry gathered momentum with Speaker Niranjan Pujari tendering his resignation on Friday evening amidst intense speculation that several ministers may resign apparently to make way for the exercise.
Sources said, they will be asked to concentrate on organisational works of the Biju Janata Dal ahead of the 2019 elections.
Even though there has been no official word on the reshuffle, sources maintained that the chief minister may go in for the exercise either tomorrow evening or on Sunday morning before leaving for New Delhi to attend the meeting convened by union home minister Rajnath Singh on May 8.
Pujari who handed over charge to deputy speaker Sananda Marandi said he is resigning to devote time to his constituency. It is expected that he copuld be inducted into the cabinet. On a day full of intense political activity, there was talk in BJD circles that minister of state for law and panchayatiraj Arun Sahu will resign though the minister denied the reports. Speculation intensified as minister of state for food supply and consumer welfare Sanjay Dasburma and minister of state for energy Pranab Prakash Das met the chief minister in his Secretariat chamber in the evening.
However, Dasburma said he met the chief minister along with some Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) activists on organisational work. Das, though, was not available for his comment.
Ministers who are likely to be dropped basing on the performance of BJD in the panchayat polls in their areas include housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singhdeo, Minister for micro, small and medium enterprises Jogendra Behera, minister for ST and SC Development Lalbihari Himirika, minister of state for sports Sudam Marandi and minister of state for handlooms, textiles and handicrafts Snehangini Chhuria.
Sources maintained that the BJD managers will follow three parameters while effecting the changes. The first criteria will be the performance of BJD in panchayat polls in the areas of the ministers. Besides, efficiency and image of the ministers will also be taken into account.
The reshuffle is seen as move to change the public perception of BJD after the unimpressive performance of the party in the rural polls and the emergence of BJP as a challenge.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister had dropped hints about the reshuffle. "Have patience. Everyone will get to know about this soon," he told mediapersons after reviewing BJD performance in panchayat polls in Bolangir and Nayagarh districts.