Odisha's Health Minister Naba Kisore Das was critically injured on Sunday afternoon after an assistant Police sub-inspector fired two gunshots at him near Brajarajnagar, in Odisha's Jharsuguda district.
Kisore Das was taking part in a public event and was scheduled to address a gathering of people when two bullets hit him in his chest.
Immediately after being shot, local authorities rushed him to a hospital in the district before he was airlifted to the state capital Bhubaneswar.
Police said that the officer who fired at the minister had been arrested.
"Assistant sub-inspector of Police, Gopal Das, opened fire at the minister. The minister is injured and has been rushed to hospital," Brajrajnagar's sub-divisional police officer, Gupteswar Bhoi, told reporters.
Odisha's state chief Naveen Patnaik was in shock after learning about the horrific incident.
Kisore Das is a member of the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a party headed by Patnaik.
"I am shocked at the unfortunate incident of the attack. I strongly condemn this and pray for his early recovery. Crime Branch is directed to take up investigation. Senior officers of Crime Branch are asked to go to the spot," Patnaik said.