What is Naveen Patnaik’s Shadow Cabinet Doing?

Bhubaneswar: Nearly two months have passed since the formation of Naveen Patnaik’s shadow cabinet on July 17, following BJD’s defeat in the recent elections. Despite assigning roles to over 50 elected members, many of these shadow ministers are now facing criticism for their silence on various pressing issues in the state. The cabinet was established with the promise of monitoring the state’s government activities, but its inaction has raised questions.

There are numerous irregularities being reported across Odisha, yet members of the shadow cabinet have chosen to remain silent instead of addressing these concerns. For example, issues such as road repairs, drainage systems, and the misuse of government schemes like the Biju Awas Yojana have surfaced, but the opposition appears reluctant to take a stand.

Members like Niranjan Pujari, who is responsible for the Home Department, have not commented on major controversies like the scandal involving Bharatpur police station. Similarly, MLA Ganeshwar Behera, in charge of the mining department, is being questioned for not addressing the problem of 181 closed mines in Odisha that have remained unused for years.

With the state’s attention turning to these growing issues, many are wondering why the shadow cabinet remains so passive and what actions, if any, it will take in the near future.