Odisha CM Majhi, Dharmendra Pradhan Discuss Education Reforms

Bhubaneswar:30/89/25: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a meeting at the CM’s official residence, marking their first such interaction 14 months after the BJP government came to power in the state. Following this, the duo also met Governor Dr. Haribabu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan, sparking intense political speculation about a possible cabinet reshuffle.

Both leaders emphasised that the discussions centred on advancing Odisha’s education sector. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), CM Majhi described the meeting as a courtesy call, where they deliberated on the national and state education systems, the New Education Policy, educational reforms, and future steps to improve educational infrastructure in Odisha. Pradhan echoed this, stating that the talks covered school education, mass education, and higher education issues in the state.

The meeting at the CM’s residence included key officials such as School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, CM’s Principal Secretary Saswat Mishra, School and Mass Education Secretary Shalini Pandit, CM’s Special Secretary Manoj Sahu, and Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA) State Project Director Ananya Das.

Later, at Raj Bhavan, the CM and Union Minister were joined by Industries Minister Sampad Swain, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. The prolonged discussions with the Governor have fueled rumours in political circles, with many questioning if the focus was truly on education or something more.

While both leaders have downplayed any rift, political observers note a perceived distance between Majhi and Pradhan over the past 14 months, despite their joint appearances at various events. Speculation is rife that the meeting addressed delays in cabinet expansion and reshuffle. Reports suggest that six vacant ministerial positions may be filled, and some current ministers could be reassigned based on performance, but Pradhan’s approval has been a sticking point.

Political analysts believe the lack of consensus from Pradhan has stalled changes in the state cabinet. It’s alleged that certain ministers were summoned to the meeting for discussions, including Nityananda Gond, Sampad Swain, Suryabanshi Suraj, and Mukesh Mahaling, to resolve these issues. However, no official outcome has been disclosed.

BJP State President Manmohan Samal dismissed media speculation, urging restraint. “The media is creating stories unnecessarily. Whatever needs to happen—be it a cabinet reshuffle or organisational restructuring in the BJP—will occur at the right time. There’s no point in fabricating narratives,” he said. Samal recalled similar pre-election media hype about alliances and seat-sharing, which proved unfounded, advising patience until official announcements.