Has seven-time MLA of Athagarh Ranendra Pratap (Raja) Swain become a Cabinet Minister in the Naveen Patnaik Government due to continuous efforts made by Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab?
Mahtab claimed this at a felicitation ceremony organised by local BJD leaders and various organisations here on Sunday evening.
Along with five-time MP Mahtab, Swain was also given a warm welcome at the programme. “I tried my best to give justice to Athagarh and MLA Rajabhai, who remained away from power for a long time, by placing a one-point demand before our party chief Naveen Patnaik to give him a berth in his Ministry, which has become a reality today,” said Mahtab.
In his speech, Swain said he would try hard to implement promises made in the party’s election manifesto and uphold the prestige and dignity of the party president.
For the charismatic personality of Naveen Patnaik, the BJD has formed the Government once again, he added. However, supporters of Swain, popularly known as Ranendra Sena, couldn’t digest Mahtab’s claim about making their leader a Minister and opined that it was reflection of Mahtab’s ego.