Naveen Patnaik has drawn up a 50-member shadow cabinet to scrutinise and take on the ruling BJP and its Chief Minister Mohan Majhi.
The members of the shadow cabinet are mostly the former ministers of his government.
They are expected to keep tabs on each minister and his department and prepare alternative plans and policies in areas the government could slip up.
The Opposition party is the custodian of people's interests.
The Opposition party has a significant role to play in the state Assembly.
The MLAs will keep close watch on the activities of departments assigned to them and actively take part during discussion of those departments in the state Assembly.