Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday entrusted charge of the Excise portfolio held by AU Singhdeo who resigned yesterday over the hooch tragedy to Sharada Prasad Nayak.
Nayak, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development(Independent Charge) was given additional charge of Excise, sources in the Chief Minister's office said.
The Planning and Coordination portfolio, which was also held by Singhdeo, was given as additional charge to Handloom & Textiles and Science & Technology Minister Usha Devi.
Usha Devi's Science & Technology portfolio was entrusted as additional charge to Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Niranjan Pujary.
The hooch tragedy in Cuttack and Khurda districts has claimed 33 lives so far with the BJD government coming under severe attack as opposition parties including Congress and BJP have been demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister besides the excise minister.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 10, 2012, 15:47