Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met with Governor Haribabu Kambhampati on Monday at Raj Bhavan in a meeting described by the Chief Minister’s Office as a courtesy visit.
The hour-long discussion covered critical state initiatives, including the newly launched Shaktishree Yojana, women’s safety measures, and pressing law-and-order issues, such as the recent incidents at FM College and Balanga.
ମାନନୀୟ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ରାଜ ଭବନଠାରେ ମାନ୍ୟବର ରାଜ୍ୟପାଳ ଡ଼. ହରି ବାବୁ କମ୍ଭମପାଟିଙ୍କୁ ସୌଜନ୍ୟମୂଳକ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କରିଛନ୍ତି। @GovernorOdisha pic.twitter.com/O71Km1wvN0
— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) July 21, 2025
The Chief Minister elaborated on the Shaktishree Yojana, a flagship program rolled out across Odisha’s 16 universities and 730 government and aided colleges. The initiative aims to ensure a safe educational environment, provide self-defence training to female students, and promote their empowerment and holistic development. Majhi also updated the Governor on the government’s efforts to strengthen women’s safety in response to rising concerns.
The meeting touched on the state’s law-and-order situation, which has sparked political debates following incidents like the self-immolation attempt by a student at FM College and the tragic Balanga case, where a female student was set on fire. Opposition parties, including Congress and BJD, have intensified protests, criticising the BJP-led government’s handling of these incidents and the Rath Yatra stampede. Majhi assured the Governor that the government is taking proactive steps to address these challenges.
Speculation is rife in political circles about a potential cabinet expansion, especially after Majhi’s recent Delhi visit, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders. While the Chief Minister had previously hinted at an imminent cabinet reshuffle, no concrete details emerged from the Raj Bhavan meeting.
In a separate development, Governor Kambhampati visited Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan at his official residence. Harichandan clarified that the visit was personal, rooted in their long-standing friendship, and focused on discussions about the Law Department’s operations and the state’s progress. He emphasised that no political matters, including cabinet expansion, were discussed. “Any decision on cabinet reshuffle lies with the Chief Minister,” Harichandan stated, adding that the timing remains uncertain.
