Bhubaneswar, Jan 14: A crucial meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders took place today in New Delhi to discuss and decide on the next president for the party’s Odisha unit. This meeting is being closely watched as speculations swirl over who will take the reins of the BJP in the state, particularly in light of the party’s growing organisational strength and its strategic goals for the future.
The BJP made significant strides in Odisha during the 2024 assembly elections, securing power under the leadership of the current state president, Manmohan Samal. However, Samal's tenure is now coming to an end, and the party is gearing up to elect a new leader to steer its activities in the state moving forward.
According to official sources, the central agenda of today’s meeting was to determine who would succeed Samal as the head of the state unit, someone who would lead the party’s strategies and ensure effective execution of its future plans. This leadership change comes at a critical juncture, as the BJP aims to strengthen its position in Odisha and manage its affairs more effectively in the coming years.
Among the prominent leaders who attended the meeting were national vice-president Baijayant Panda, the incumbent state president Manmohan Samal, the party’s Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, and deputy in-charge Lata Usendi. These key figures discussed a range of topics concerning the party’s organisational dynamics and leadership structure.
A focal point of the meeting was assessing the current organisational status in Odisha and formulating a blueprint for future strategies. One of the significant issues raised was the need to decide who would take responsibility for managing the BJP’s affairs in the state and provide direction for the party’s activities.
Additionally, the meeting also delved into the appointment of district presidents across Odisha. A list of these appointments is expected to be released within the next two days, said sources.
The confirmation of district presidents is anticipated to pave the way for an official announcement regarding the new state president, further shaping the party’s leadership in the state.
The party’s leadership selection process in Odisha also includes the election of Mandal presidents, with new appointments already made.
