Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will appoint chairpersons to different state-run corporations and boards by the end of this month.

This was revealed by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday.

“The state government has completed all the routine works for the appointment of chairpersons to different state-run corporations and boards in Odisha. The appointment process will be completed by the end of this month,” said Pujari.

Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha is yet to appoint chairpersons to state-run corporations and boards even though it has completed two years in office recently.

The Revenue Minister also made it clear that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has the prerogative to take a decision regarding the expansion of the Council of Ministers in the state.

“As per the constitutional provisions, the size of the Council of Ministers should not exceed 15 per cent of the total members of the Assembly. So, around 21 members can be accommodated in the Council of Ministers in the state. Now, the Council of Ministers in Odisha has 16 members. At least five more members can be accommodated in the Council of Ministers. However, the Chief Minister has the prerogative to take a call in this regard,” said Minister.

It is worth mentioning here that Majhi had formed a 16-member Council of Ministers after the BJP stormed to power in Odisha in the Assembly polls in 2024.

The Chief Minister had inducted two Deputy Chief Ministers, eight Cabinet Ministers and six Ministers of State with independent charge in the Council of Ministers in Odisha.

Several ministers were given the charge of multiple departments while Majhi himself kept several key portfolios including General Administration, Home, Finance, Water Resources and I&PR.