In a ceremony held at the Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on June 12, 2024, state governor Raghubar Das swore in Mohan Charan Majhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the new chief minister of Odisha. He is the first BJP leader to hold the position of Odisha chief minister. In addition, he is the third tribal person to hold the position of chief minister in Odisha, following Giridhar Gamang and Hemananda Biswal, both of the Congress party.
Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Mrs. Pravati Parida, were also sworn in as the deputy chief ministers. Present at the event were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and the chief ministers of nine BJP-ruled states.
Majhi represents the state's Keonjhar assembly constituency, which is set aside for scheduled tribes, as a four-time MLA. Majhi, a well-liked tribal leader, defeated BJD candidate Meena Majhi in the 2024 assembly elections with 11,577 votes. He defeated Madhaba Sardar of the BJD by a mere 1,124 votes in the 2019 assembly elections. Majhi had previously served as the seat's representative twice, from 2000 to 2009.
The fact that Majhi is a member of the same Santhal tribe as President Droupadi Murmu is an intriguing coincidence. Her hometown is Mayurbhanj, which is a district that borders Keonjhar. When combined, the two districts make up one of the longest continuous tribal belts in the state.
The 53-year-old tribal leader was elected local sarpanch in 1997, marking the start of his political career. He was named the main whip of the opposition in the Odisha Assembly following his victory in the 2019 assembly elections.
On January 6, 1972, Mohan Charan Majhi was born in the Raikala village in the Keonjhar district. Gunaram Majhi, his father, was a security guard. His family is a member of the Santal tribe. He finished his upper secondary education at Anadapur College in 1990 after attending Jhumpura High School in 1987. Mohan Charan Majhi is married to Priyanka Marandi, and the couple has two children. They reside in Kendujhar, Odisha.
At Chandra Sekhar College in Champua, Mohan Charan Majhi studied his further study and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. Later on, Dhenkanal Law College awarded him a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). Majhi taught in the Jhumpura Saraswati Shishu Mandir, one of a chain of schools run by Vidya Bharti, the RSS's educational division, prior to entering politics. From 1997 until 2000, Mohan Charan Majhi served as the village sarpanch before entering politics. Since 1997, he has also served as secretary of the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tribal branch. Majhi is well-known for being a grassroots leader who gains respect from others and blends in with them easily. His administrative experience is restricted to serving as the state's chair of the Public Accounts Committee from 2022 to 2024 and as a member of the Standing Committee of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services (For SC and ST) Act, 1975.
But as a politician, his honesty and ethics have always been unquestioned. People who know him well attest to his incredibly kind personality.
He never turns down an invitation to join local events and will go above and beyond to assist others. It is this that has made him popular with the constituency's residents.
His prior positions were distinguished by his dedication to public service and capable leadership, which helped him gain recognition in Odisha's political scene. Notably, Majhi has been a proponent of ethical mining methods. In 2009, he voiced concerns over excessive iron ore and manganese mining, which prompted an investigation by retired Supreme Court judge Justice MB Shah.
Majhi stated in an interview following his election victory in 2019 that although his homeland of Keonjhar is rich in natural riches, no locals have actually benefited from them. He accused the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government of failing to improve the region's infrastructure, healthcare systems, and employment opportunities. "District Mineral Fund has to be disbursed and utilised properly for a mass uplifting," he had stated.
His opposition to the mining mafia led to two crude bombs hurled at him on October 10, 2021, which he escaped narrowly.
Within the BJP state unit, Majhi is held in high regard as a powerful organisational leader with close ties to the RSS. The typically "non-controversial" person made news last year after he and Mukesh Mahaling were suspended for reportedly throwing raw dal (pulses) onto the speaker's podium of the Odisha Assembly.
Majhi has been in politics for more than twenty years. His popularity stems from his ability to relate to the general public, especially in the tribal areas. Having served as an MLA four times, he possesses a profound comprehension of the state's governance structure and has played a significant role in moulding the BJP's plans for the area.
By Nilabh Krishna
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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