Who is Mohan Majhi and why is he so popular?

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mohan Charan Majhi, a four-time legislator from Keonjhar, was sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister of Odisha on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were among the dignitaries present as the 53-year-old, whose father was a security guard, assumed office as the BJP’s first chief minister in the state.

Since the state’s founding in 1936, Majhi is the third tribal chief minister of Odisha, after the late Hemanand Biswal and Giridhar Gamang.

Prabhati Parida, the first-time MLA from Nimapara, and K. V. Singh Deo, the six-time MLA from the Patnagarh Assembly constituency, also took the oath of office. In Odisha’s inaugural BJP government, these two leaders will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.

Who is Mohan Majhi?

Born on January 6, 1973 in Raikala, Keonjhar district, Mohan Charan Majhi’s father Gunaram Majhi, worked as a security guard. Majhi belongs to the Santali tribe. He completed his schooling at Jhumpura High School in 1987 and higher secondary education from Anadapur College in 1990. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chandra Sekhar College, Champua, and an LLB from Dhenkanal Law College. Before entering politics, Majhi worked as a teacher at the Jhumpura Saraswati Shishu Mandir, a school run by the RSS’s educational wing, Vidya Bharti. He is married to Priyanka Marndi.

Majhi is renowned for his ability to organize and serve the people. Despite losing in 2014 to Abhiram Naik of the BJD, he was elected to the Assembly again, in 2024 and again in 2019. He holds the Keonjhar seat. From 2000 till 2009, he was Keonjhar’s former representative. Majhi was the government’s Deputy Chief Whip under the BJD-BJP coalition government from 2005 until 2009, according to News18. From 1997 to 2000, he worked as a sarpanch before joining the Assembly.

 Why did BJP choose Mohan Majhi for Odisha CM?

The BJP selected Mohan Charan Majhi as Odisha Chief Minister, recognizing him as a highly eligible candidate. His selection may be strategic, aiming to influence the upcoming elections in neighboring Jharkhand. Majhi is respected in the BJP state unit for his strong organizational leadership and ties with the RSS.

Despite being a typically ‘non-controversial’ figure, he gained attention last year for allegedly throwing uncooked dal at the Odisha Assembly speaker’s podium, leading to his suspension alongside BJP leader Mukesh Mahaling.

“Mohan Charan Majhi is a strong and firebrand tribal leader from the mineral-rich Kendujhar district. He is a very eligible candidate for the CM’s post,” senior journalist and political analyst Jatindra Dash told India Today. His tribal background appears to be a significant factor in his favor, potentially helping the BJP attract tribal voters in Jharkhand, which is set for its Assembly election in October-November.