Dr.SARAT CHANDRA BEHERA
Just twenty-two days after taking oath as Odisha’s first BJP Chief Minister, Mohan Charan Majhi began his day in the Secretariat with the quiet dignity that now defines his tenure. It was a routine morning, yet symbolically significant—he stepped into the rhythm of governance with reverence, joined by his ministers and staff. His earliest resolve was clear: to bring Odia Asmita—the pride of Odisha’s art, culture, and heritage—to the forefront of policymaking.
Despite initial scepticism surrounding his lack of prior administrative experience, Majhi has, over the past year, demonstrated the qualities of a grounded, visionary leader. His calm persona and clarity of purpose silenced critics who underestimated him. Leading a new political era in Odisha, Majhi has made people-centric governance the cornerstone of his administration, emphasizing transparency, direct outreach, and accountability.
A prominent tribal voice from Keonjhar, Majhi is no stranger to grassroots politics. His government, buoyed by strong support from the Centre, swiftly launched initiatives like the Subhadra Yojana, aimed at uplifting women from economically weaker backgrounds. Similarly, the push for a free senior citizen health mission under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana reflects his understanding of Odisha’s demographic needs.
Majhi’s journey hasn’t been without resistance. His critics—some within his own party, others across the aisle—have dismissed him as a short-statured, insecure figure lacking gravitas. Yet, like Lal Bahadur Shastri, to whom he is often compared, Majhi’s strength lies not in stature but in substance. His poise and focus have proven the sceptics wrong.
Not merely a beneficiary of party politics, Majhi’s rise to leadership was shaped by credibility. In 2019, he re-emerged as the BJP’s leading voice in the Odisha Assembly when Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik was incapacitated by COVID-19. He brought legislative energy through seven private member bills, including the Odisha Whistle Blowers Protection Bill (2020) and the Odisha Mahila Gram Sabha Bill (2021), reflecting a bold yet measured approach to reform.
The Chief Minister, Mohan Majhi, also kept mining malpractice in Keonjhar in check, a district holding 25% of India’s iron ore deposits, earning a reputation for integrity.
The Chief Minister’s commitment to growth was visible at major investor summits like the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave in January 2025, where 54 MoUs were signed worth ₹5 lakh crore, ushering new hope for industrial revival. Simultaneously, his unflinching stand against corruption was exemplified by the arrest of Chief Engineer Baikuntha Nath Sarangi, a case exposing disproportionate wealth and reflecting Majhi’s zero-tolerance stance.
Majhi’s approach is not loud. Robed in calmness, he often appears vulnerable in public meetings. But his solutions—whether addressing urbanisation, the railway network, or planning satellite townships—reveal thoughtful governance in motion. His administration is also working toward correcting staffing gaps in healthcare as laid out in 2022, aiming to fill 40% vacancies in specialised doctors, 49% in medical officers, and 30% in nursing staff.
Perhaps the most impressive achievement of the BJP government under Majhi is the swift implementation of four major poll promises in less than a month:
Disbursement of ₹50,000 to women aged 21–60, raising the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy to ₹3,100, opening all four gates of Shree Jagannath Temple and enhancing monthly pensions for the elderly and disabled to ₹3,000. These actions reflect not just political will but a deep commitment to public welfare.
In 2024, Majhi steered the BJP to a historic clean sweep in Odisha, unseating the BJD after five consecutive terms—a feat many once deemed impossible. Now, as he steers Odisha through a critical phase of economic revival, infrastructural development, and social equity, he embodies a new chapter for the state—firm in values, bold in vision, and humble in service.
