Party-hoppers denied ministerial berths

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who returned to power for the third consecutive time today, sidelined party hoppers and rewarded the loyalists of his charismatic father Biju Patnaik in distributing berths in his 21-member ministry on Thursday.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who returned to power for the third consecutive time today, sidelined party hoppers and rewarded the loyalists of his charismatic father Biju Patnaik in distributing berths in his 21-member ministry on Thursday.

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As a result senior leaders like Bed Prakash Agarwal, Aurobindo Dhali and Nrushingha Sahu, who had joined BJD, the first regional party who made it on its own in the state, just ahead of the elections were denied ministerial berths though they won the polls.

Agarwal, who defeated BJP stalwart Bijay Mohapatra in Patkura assembly seat, was a minister in Patnaik's first term as a BJP minister. He had, however, lost the 2004 polls and succeeded this time as a BJD candidate.

Dhali too had joined BJD after quitting Samajwadi Party. He had been earlier elected to the assembly from Malkangiri assembly seat on BJP ticket.

Sahu was a Congress MLA in the last assembly and joined BJD after being denied ticket from his traditional Parjang seat. He joined BJD and won the seat.

Patnaik selectively chose Biju loyalists Prafulla Samal, Prasanna Acharya and Damodar Rout.