Speaker to become minister, two tainted ministers resign

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Odisha chief minister Naveen Pattanaik is expected to reshuffle his cabinet after the resignation of state assembly speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha and two ministers, Samir Ranjan Dash and Srikant Sahu. According to BJD sources, school and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash is accused of abetment of suicide of a party worker Dharmendra Sahoo in Gop in Puri district.

Labour minister Srikant Sahu is accused of sexual harassment of a party worker. Senior party MP and BJP spokesperson Chandrasekhar Sahoo told ANM News that the resignations took place at the instructions of the chief minister. ``Naveen Pattanaik directed them to tender their resignations. The speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha will be accomodated in the ministry and hence was asked to step down,'' he said. Senior cabinet minister Ashok Panda informed that the resignations will not have any impact on the party and the government.