By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, September 3, 2017: The elevation of Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] leader and union minister of state [independent charge] petroleum and natural gas, Dharmendra Pradhan to cabinet rank on Sunday has virtually put the party in Odisha on cloud nine.

Call it good luck, loyalty or his close ties with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah which helped Dharmendra being sworn in as Cabinet minister on Sunday’s ministry reshuffle. Some attribute his perseverance, performance and professionalism that catapulted the young minister to the Cabinet rank in the Narendra Modi government.

The party activists here celebrated Pradhan’s elevation to Cabinet rank with extra responsibility of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Leaders, workers and State heavy weights created a joyful ambience by exchanging sweets among themselves and beating drums and dancing at the time when Pradhan was taking oath in Delhi.

The Odisha BJP unit feels Mr Pradhan rose to his present enviable position more because of his hard work, proficiency, performance and professionalism than anything else.

The leaders claimed that Dharmendra was rewarded for the hard work he put in to reach out millions of poor women through his ministry’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

“The elevation of Dharmendra Pradhan will encourage the workers at grassroots level which would definitely reflect on our agenda to capture 120 seats in Odisha as set by Amit Shah,” state BJP president Basant Panda said.

Mr Pradhan is considered as one of the most trusted lieutenants of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.

The overwhelming success of the BJP in Bihar in 2014 general elections under the stewardship of Mr Pradhan and subsequent successful crisis management in Karnataka and Uttarkhand BJP units had earned him the trust of the Prime Minister Mr Modi and party president Mr Shah.

“Union minister Mr Dharmendra Pradhan has proved his worth both as capable minister and party leader. His contribution in taking governance close to the people and endearing the party to one and all is well recognized. He has been duly rewarded by being elevated to the Cabinet rank and getting the additional charge of skill development ministry,” state BJP vice president Sameer Mohanty said.

A beaming Dharmendra express his gratitude to Prime Minister for giving him an opportunity “to act as a soldier in his government and for giving due honour to Odia community. I will try to give best performance for his New India mission and development of Odisha and other eastern Indian States which would influence the development of country.”

“Perhaps, Odisha had never got such importance as PM Modi has given today,” he added.

In the last Lok Sabha poll, only Jual Oram got elected from Sundergarh and got the cabinet minister’s post. Now with Dharmendra becoming second cabinet minister from state, the BJP has virtually silenced critics and opposition leaders about the central neglect of the state.