Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday shuffled his ministry to refurbish his government’s image ahead of the Assembly polls and general election in 2024.

He dropped 11 ministers --- some over allegations of crime or corruption and some for purported lack of performance — and brought back several old loyalists. The rejig comes after the current government completed three years in office on May 29. All the ministers had resigned on Saturday at Naveen’s behest.

On Sunday, governor Ganeshi Lal administered the oath of office to 21 ministers, including 13 cabinet ministers, in the chief minister’s presence.

The number of women ministers has risen from two to five, indicating the government would continue to focus on women’s empowerment.

The shuffle sends out the message that Naveen would not have controversial ministers.

The Opposition had held demonstrations demanding the sack for several ministers, including Arun Kumar Sahoo (agriculture and higher education) Dibya Shankar Mishra (home and Industries), and Pratap Jena (law and panchayati raj), for alleged involvement in corruption or other crimes.

Naveen had refused to sack them under Opposition pressure but has now shown them the door.

“It’s his style of functioning. The Opposition cannot dictate terms to Naveen. However, he wants to keep his image intact. That’s the reason he has been in power for the last 22 years,” a Biju Janata Dal leader said.

Those dropped from the ministry would be given organisational responsibilities to improve the party’s position in their areas, sources said.

Five former ministers who had carried out their organisational assignments diligently --- Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Pramila Mallick, Usha Devi, Pratap Keshari Deb and Pradip Kumar Amat -- have made a comeback to the ministry.

For Mallick, the wait has been a long 11 years. She had resigned in 2011 over alleged irregularities in the purchase of pulses for the school midday meal scheme. Nayak, who held the health portfolio, had resigned in 2016 on moral grounds after a fire at a private hospital killed several patients.

In a departure from convention, the swearing-in was held at the newly built convention hall of the state secretariat instead of the Raj Bhavan.

Three years ago, at the beginning of his fifth and current term, Naveen’s swearing-in had been held at the Exhibition Ground.