Bhubaneswar: At least eight ministers in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet are trailing in the Odisha assembly election, as per the early trend showing in the official website of Election Commission (EC).
There are 20 Ministers in the Cabinet of CM Patnaik, of which two ministers, Usha Devi and Sudam Marndi are not contesting in this Assembly polls, whose results are being declared on Tuesday.
Of the 18 ministers who are contesting in this election, eight candidates are trailing as the latest trend available till 1 PM. Those are—Forest and Environment Minister Pradip Kumar Amat, Works Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik, Higher Education minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Transport minister Tukuni Sahu, Science and Technology Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha, Handlooms & Textiles Minister Rita Sahu and Women & Child Development Minister Basanti Hembram.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is leading in both Assembly seats—Hinjili and Kantabanji. Out of 147 MLA seats, the BJP is leading in 70 seats while BJD is leading in 61 and Congress at 13. Two independent candidates and a CPI (M) nominee are also leading in the early trends available till 1 PM.