BHUBANESWAR, AUG 25: In a move to tighten his grip over the administration, Chief Minister J B Patnaik on Monday changed the portfolios of several ministers including Deputy Chief Minister Basant Kumar Biswal and inducted senior tribal leader Mohan Nag into the ministry, giving him independent charge of Food and Civil Supplies. Nag was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Dr C Rangarajan at the Raj Bhavan here on Monday.The Chief Minister has retained the Finance portfolio earlier held by Biswal. The Deputy CM will now look after Planning and Coordination in addition to Water Resources and Parliamentary Affairs already held by him.
Higher Education Minister Bhagabat Prasad Mahanty has been given Pension and Grievances while Habibullah Khan who earlier held the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio gets Panchayati Raj.
Minister of State for Planning and Coordination Haladhar Karjee has been made Minister for Steel and Mines. While Bhupinder Singh is the new Information and Public Relations Minister, while Netranand Mallik gets Culture and Tourism.
The portfolios of Minister of State for Urban Development Amar Pradhan and Minister of State for Health Jagannath Rout have been interchanged.
This would not be the last expansion of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister told mediapersons at Raj Bhavan. Another major expansion and reshuffle will take place after Durga Puja, he announced.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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