Minister Arun Sahoo takes part in a havan ceremony at his office in state secretariat in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, May 23: Panchayati raj and law minister Arun Sahoo today performed a havan (religious rite) at his chamber in the state secretariat before assuming office.

Sahoo had occupied the same chamber on the first floor of the ministerial corridor in the outgoing government as minister for energy, information & public relations.

Sahoo took part in the ritual conducted by a priest. Since morning, employees of his office were seen making arrangements for the ritual.

Though Sahoo was not available for comments, sources close to the 46-year-old leader said the rituals were performed to ward off “evil”.

Supporters of Sahoo had felt threatened when Congress leader of his Nayagarh Assembly constituency Hemendra Chandra Singh joined the BJD on the eve of polls.

There were speculations that Singh may be nominated for the Assembly seat in place of Sahoo. Much to the relief of Sahoo, Singh contested the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat.

Naveen Patnaik has rewarded Sahoo with the plum panchayati raj portfolio and he has also bagged the law ministry. However, BJD sources considered these two portfolios as “inauspicious”. Former law minister Raghunath Mohanty had to step down from the office last year following dowry torture allegations levelled by his daughter-in-law Barsa Swony Chaudhury. Mohanty was also denied party ticket this time.

Earlier, Mohanty had been shifted from the panchayati raj department in the wake of alleged Rs 500-crore scam under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Outgoing law minister Maheswar Mohanty had to face some difficult time when he was attacked by some goons in February. Though re-elected from Puri, he has been left out of the ministry.

BJD youth wing president Sanjay Das Burma, who is the new food and civil supply minister, has reportedly chosen the office just in front of Sahoo’s chamber. The room was lying vacant since the resignation of Raguhunath Mohanty.

Sources in general administration departmen said that most of the outgoing ministers have preferred to retain their old offices. There are 12 old faces. It’s a problem for the new comers who want rooms of their choices.

While Sahoo was busy with religious rites, senior cabinet ministers Bijoyshree Routray, Debi Prasad Mishra, Badri Narayan Patra and Usha Devi have attended their office in the last two days and held discussion with officials of their respective departments. The Assembly also witnessed activity with protem Speaker V. Sugana Kumari Deo administering oath to 138 newly elected legislators. The first person to take oath today was chief minister Naveen Patnaik.