Total overhaul of party setup, ministry on cards

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to reshuffle his ministry soon after setting right the party organisation following the failed attempt to unseat him by Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra and his supporters.Though the axe has fallen on Pyari, his two MLA supporters and two ministers __ Anjali Behera and Sanjeeb Sahoo __ action is likely against many others who were active in the ‘aborted coup'. Sources said the Chief Minister has made up his mind for a complete recast of the party setup and the ministry. But the timing is yet to be decided. Those, who played their role to save the Government, are going to be rewarded while others, whose roles are still suspect, will be shown the door. New members will also be inducted in the ministry and portfolios of many ministers changed.While a section of the BJD maintains that the reshuffle will be over within the week, others guess that the exercise may take a month. But everyone is certain that a complete overhauling is on the cards.The vacancies in the Naveen ministry have gone up to four with the sacking of Anjali and Sanjeeb on Friday. Earlier, there were two vacancies because of resignations of Pradeep Maharathy and A U Singhdeo.While Maharathy had to resign because of the public outcry over the Pipili ‘gangrape’ case, Singhdeo resigned taking moral responsibility for the hooch tragedy in Khurda and Cuttack districts which claimed 41 lives. Sources said tribals will be given a proper representation in the new ministry. While several tribal MLAs had sided with Pyari in his failed coup attempt, there were many who remained with Naveen during the entire period.A vacancy is likely in the post of Deputy Speaker before the next Assembly session as the present incumbent Sananda Marandi had  played a key role in the entire exercise. Marandi had, however, rushed to Naveen Nivas on Wednesday when the plans failed. He also met the Chief Minister after his return to Bhubaneswar on Thursday.BJD leaders said he had been spared for the time being as taking sudden action against him may go against Naveen’s scheme of things. Naveen is now playing the tribal card at the national as well as the local level.