Who'll succeed Naveen in Delhi?

Who'll succeed Naveen in Delhi?
Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 26: With Naveen Patnaik sure to become the next Chief Minister of the State, a different kind of race in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is simultaneously on among party MPs to get into the A B Vajpayee-led ministry.

Patnaik, the Union Mines and Minerals Minister, as the president of the BJD, has also to choose one who will have to be inducted into the Union Government in the event of his resignation from the ministry as well as from the membership of the Lok Sabha. He is expected to put in his papers to Vajpayee in the next few days.

BJD has two berths in the Vajpayee ministry held by Patnaik and Dilip Ray, who is the Minister of State for Steel. Sources in the BJD said after Patnaik's resignation, Ray is likely to be elevated to the Cabinet rank.

Though there are several aspirants from among the BJD MPs to fill the slot, three-time MP Arjun Sethi is tipped to be the next choice.