Watchman's son Mohan Charan Majhi is Odisha CM, erstwhile royal his deputy

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, June 11

In a surprise move on Tuesday, the newly elected BJP MLAs in Odisha chose Mohan Charan Majhi, a veteran Santhal tribe leader, as their leader paving the way for his elevation as Odisha’s chief minister.

A watchman’s son, Majhi, 52, rose through the BJP ranks to become the CM-designate. He will be sworn in as CM on Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to attend the ceremony.

Majhi is a four-term MLA from Keonjhar and began his career as a teacher in RSS-run Shishu Vidya Mandir. His election happened in the presence of two BJP central observers — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Six-term MLA and former BJP Odisha president KV Singh Deo, 67, will be the deputy CM.

A former cabinet minister in the state, Deo is an erstwhile royal of Patnagarh and his wife Sangeeta Singh Deo is a BJP MP from Bolangir.

Apart from Deo, Pravati Parida, 57, a first-term MLA and an OBC, has also been named deputy CM.

Parida belongs to the dominant Khandayat community and has held several positions in the party in the past.

The selections represent all major castes and regions of Odisha.

The BJP won the Odisha election unseating CM Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal and ending Patnaik’s 24-year rule in the state.

This will be the first time the BJP will form a full-majority government in Odisha.

The first invite for the oath-taking ceremony of Majhi went to Lord Jagannath as per tradition and was delivered to the 12th century shrine by a group of BJP MLAs. 

Outgoing CM Patnaik has also been invited.