Bhubaneswar, Nov. 15: Rural development and law minister Bikram Kesari Arukh’s absence from a series of official events held today in Mayurbhanj district has fuelled speculation about his imminent exit from the state cabinet.

All the bridge construction projects were inaugurated by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is said to be cut up with the rural development and law minister after the latter got embroiled in a controversy over allotment of houses to him under the discretionary quota.

Arukh was allotted two houses — one in 2007 in his wife’s name and another in 2009 in his own name — under the discretionary quota in alleged violation of rules.

The rules state that a person having a government allotted house either in his name or in the name of a family member cannot be allotted a second house.

In the wake of the controversy, the chief minister had promised to look into the allegations against the minister.

Sources said that according to the scheduled programme today, two bridges on the Jamudiha and Sim rivers were to be inaugurated on the Hatigoda–Saliebeda Road under the Biju Setu Yojana. Both the projects are funded by the rural development department.

Official protocol demanded the presence of Arukh along with the chief minister on the occasion.

Surprisingly, though the state government’s advertisement issued on the occasion carried Arukh’s pictures along with that of Naveen, his name was missing. “The chief minister wants to keep his distance from controversies and controversial people as this may affect his clean image,” said a senior government official.

On being contacted, Arukh said, “I did not go because I have an eyesore.” He added in the same breath that he was not a part of the programme.

A government official, however, said: “The programme was finalised at the last moment. The chief minister’s office finalised the programme directly taking only the district authorities into confidence.”

Significantly, sources said the chief minister’s office was busy collecting information about allotment of houses under discretionary quota in the wake of the controversy.

However, Biju Yuva Janata Dal president and MLA Sanjay Dasburma sought to delink today’s programme from the discretionary quota controversy.

“These are two different things. This should not be made an issue in this manner,” he said.

However, the Opposition, including the BJP and the Congress, have stepped up pressure on the government for the resignation of Arukh. Their campaign against the minister has received a boost following a complaint lodged against him in a police station recently.