Bhubaneswar, 02 July (H.S.): The Odisha government will complete the appointment of chairpersons to various state-run corporations and boards by the end of July, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said on Thursday.

Pujari said that all necessary procedural formalities related to the appointments have already been completed and the final decision is expected to be taken before the end of the month.

“The government has completed the required processes for appointing chairpersons to different state-run corporations and boards. The appointments will be finalised by the end of this month,” he told reporters.

The announcement comes more than two years after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed its government in Odisha following the 2024 Assembly elections. Several key corporations and boards have remained without full-time chairpersons since then.

Responding to questions regarding a possible expansion of the state Cabinet, Pujari clarified that the decision rests solely with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

He noted that under constitutional provisions, the size of the Council of Ministers can be up to 15 per cent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With the Odisha Assembly comprising 147 members, the Council can have a maximum strength of around 21 ministers.

At present, the state Cabinet has 16 members, including the Chief Minister, two Deputy Chief Ministers, eight Cabinet Ministers, and six Ministers of State with independent charge, leaving room for further expansion.

Following the formation of the BJP government in June 2024, Chief Minister Majhi constituted a 16-member Council of Ministers. However, several ministers currently hold multiple portfolios, while the Chief Minister retains key departments, including General Administration, Home, Finance, Water Resources, and Information and Public Relations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda