Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday distributed portfolios among his ministers, 72 hours after assuming power.

The new ministry has got the approval of governor Raghubar Das.

According to the government release, chief minister Majhi has kept home; general administration and public grievances; finance; information and public relations; water resources; planning and convergences and some other departments not specifically assigned to anyone.

Deputy chief minister K.V. Singh Deo will look after agriculture and farmers empowerment and energy.

The other deputy chief minister, Pravati Parida, has been assigned women and child development, Mission Shakti and tourism.

Cabinet minister Suresh Pujari will hold the revenue and disaster management department, while Rabi Narayan Naik has been assigned rural development, panchayati raj and drinking water.

Nityananda Gond has become the minister of school and mass education, ST and SC development, minorities and backward classes welfare, social security, and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

Krushna Chandra Patra got food supplies and consumer welfare, and science and technology, while law, works and excise departments went to Prithiviraj Harichandan.

Dr Mukesh Mahaling has become the minister of health and family welfare, parliamentary affairs, electronics and information technology. Bhibhuti Bhusan Jena will look after commerce and transport and steel and mines. Dr Krushna Chanra Mahapatra got housing and urban development and public enterprises.

Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, the minister of state (with independent charge), has got the forest, environment and climate change; and labour and employees state insurance.

Suryabanshi Suraj has become the minister of state (with independent charge) for higher education; sports and youth services; and Odia language, literature and culture.

Pradeep Bal Samanta, another minister of state, got cooperation, handlooms, textiles and handicrafts.

Gokulananda Mallik was made the minister of state for fisheries and animal resources development, micro, small and medium enterprises, while Sampad Chandra Swain got industries skill development and technical education departments.

Political observers were of the view that the "surprise win" of the BJP in the state had delayed the distribution of portfolios.

Senior journalist Girija Shankar Das said: “We have never seen such a delay. Typically, the allocation of departments among the ministers is done within 24 hours and the ministers start functioning soon. But there has been quite a delay. Now, with the distribution of ministries, we hope the government will start functioning from Monday effectively.”