Odisha BJP Legislature Party meeting today

Bhubaneswar, June 11:  The Odisha BJP Legislature Party is gearing up for a crucial meeting on Tuesday to elect the party's leader and the next Chief Minister of the state. The election process will be overseen by two central observers, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav.

The oath-taking ceremony for the new government is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several top BJP leaders are expected to grace the occasion.

Having secured a majority in the Odisha Assembly with 78 seats out of 147, the BJP stands poised to assume power in the state.

Despite various speculations, the party has yet to finalize a consensus leader for the Chief Minister's post. Presently, three contenders are vying for the position within the BJP ranks.

Sources within the party indicate that Manmohan Samal, the BJP state unit president, remains a frontrunner for the role, despite his defeat in the Assembly election from the Chandabali constituency. Another prominent candidate is Suresh Pujari, the Brajarajnagar MLA and former state BJP chief. Additionally, veteran leader and Patnagarh MLA KV Singh Deo is also under consideration.

However, the BJP leadership may spring a surprise, akin to its decisions in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh in 2023, by announcing a Chief Minister not previously anticipated by political experts.

While several names were initially in contention for the post, it appears that the party has now narrowed down its choices, indicating that the new Chief Minister will emerge from among the elected MLAs.