Naveen gets five new ministers

Lal Bihari Himirika,who quit as Deputy Speaker on Monday,was sworn in as cabinet minister. He is likely to get Tribal Welfare after the resignation of Bijoy Ranjan Singh Bariha.

Others who took oath are Pradip Maharathy,former Speaker Maheswar Mohanty,Chikiti MLA Usha Devi and Binika MLA Niranjan Pujari. Anjali Behera,who was Minister of State independent charge for Textiles and Handlooms,was elevated to cabinet rank.

Over the past few months,political circles were abuzz with rumours of Mohapatras waning influence over Naveen,but on Monday night the septuagenarian MP showed his authority by forcing his bete noire,Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout,to resign.

Rout and Mohapatra had openly sparred on more than one occasion with the former reminding the latter that he was a mere officer.

Rout had angered Mohapatra with his comments that Naveen was the only power centre in BJD.

Along with Rout,two others Praveen Bhanja Deo and Bijoy Ranjan Singh Bariha had to resign ahead of the reshuffle.

But more than the long-awaited reshuffle,the political circles were discussing the re-emergence of Mohapatra,considered the brain behind the BJDs Assembly election victory in 2009.

Paradeep Maharathy and Maheswar Mohanty are seen as close to Mohapatra. So are Anjali Behera and Niranjan Pujari.

The reshuffle has proved that Naveen cannot think of doing politics without Pyari Mohapatra. He alone decides things for Naveen. Anyone who thinks otherwise would end up short-circuiting his career, said political analyst Rabi Das.