Manmohan Samal Set to Become Odisha BJP President for Record 3rd Term
BY B.Maharana
Bhubaneswar, July 07
Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manmohan Samal is all set to become the Odisha State BJP President for a historic third term as he is the lone candidate for the post in the party’s organisational elections under the ‘Sangathan Parv-2024’ initiative.The official announcement of his becoming the state BJP president tomorrow by the rutuning officer will be a formallity.
Samal is also the incumbet state president of Odisha BJP .
The process of state BJP president election , overseen by central observer Sanjay Jaiswal, also included the submission of 32 nominations for the BJP’s national council.
The formal announcement of the state president and national council members is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 AM said the central observer and Bihar MP Sanjay Jaiswal.
Samal filed his nomination at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar in presence prominent leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, State In-Charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Co-In-Charge Lata Usendi, MP Sambit Patra, Co-Election Officer Sukeshi Oram, state cabinet members, party MLAs .
The 2024 elections marked a turning point for the BJP in Odisha under Samal’s leadership. Breaking its long-standing alliance with the BJD, the BJP decided to contest the elections independently, a bold move spearheaded by Samal. His strategic vision paid off, as the party secured a historic victory, forming the government in Odisha with Mohan Charan Majhi as Chief Minister. However, Samal faced a personal setback, losing the Chandbali Assembly seat in a closely contested battle.
He held the post of state BJP president in1999 for five years and and was appointed as president in 2023.
Despite this electoral defeat, Samal’s re-election as state president reflects the party’s unwavering confidence in his ability to lead. His experience, organisational skills, and deep understanding of Odisha’s political dynamics have made him a linchpin in the BJP’s state machinery. He was also elected to Rajya Sabha as BJP member in 2000 . He was also elected to State assembly in 2004 and became a Cabinet Minister in the BJD-BJP coalition ministry under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik .