Cabinet expansion talks on agenda as Amit Shah visits Odisha this month

Bhubaneswar, Dec 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Odisha for two days at the end of this month, specifically on December 29 and 30, although the official itinerary has yet to be confirmed.

This visit follows Shah’s recent trip to the state from November 29 to December 1, where he attended the DGP-IGP meeting in Bhubaneswar, an event also graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During his upcoming visit, Shah is anticipated to participate in a training program for party MLAs in Bhubaneswar and will likely make a stop in Sambalpur as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to bolster its organizational structure within the state.

Speculation is growing regarding potential discussions about expanding the BJP ministry in Odisha, especially as the Mohan Majhi government has completed six months in office, raising questions about the inclusion of additional ministers.

Shah's itinerary will blend official duties with party-related activities. He is also expected to review preparations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, which will take place in Bhubaneswar for the first time, with Prime Minister Modi inaugurating the event on January 9 and President Droupadi Murmu attending the closing session the following day. A significant focus of Shah’s visit will likely be on cabinet expansion and other political matters, with more than six ministerial vacancies currently in the Majhi government.