Naveen Patnaik Forms UK-Style Shadow Cabinet to Challenge BJP in Odisha Assembly

GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 20th July. Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, now serving as the state’s Leader of Opposition, has established a 50-member shadow cabinet to scrutinize and challenge the ruling BJP and its Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. This strategic move comes as the budget session of the Odisha state assembly approaches, scheduled to begin next Monday.

Patnaik’s shadow cabinet, modeled after the UK parliamentary system, includes mostly former ministers from his government. The cabinet will oversee the performance of each minister and their departments, aiming to offer alternative plans and policies where the government might falter.

“The Opposition party is the custodian of people’s interests and has a significant role to play in the state Assembly. Our MLAs will monitor their assigned departments closely and actively participate in discussions to safeguard public interests,” Patnaik stated in a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) release.

Patnaik’s initiative highlights his commitment to a proactive role from the Opposition benches, countering perceptions that the BJD might become politically irrelevant after losing power in the recent elections. The BJP defeated Patnaik’s government, securing 78 out of 147 assembly seats, while the BJD won 51 seats.

As Patnaik assumes the role of Leader of the Opposition, the BJD aims to make its presence felt not only through parliamentary debates but also by staging protests if the BJP-led central government neglects Odisha’s interests. The party has already aligned itself with the broader Opposition on issues such as NEET and has engaged in parliamentary walkouts to express its stance.