BJP, BJD & Congress in Odisha may get new chiefs this year

With the arrival of the New Year, speculations are rife that the state units of BJP, Congress and the regional party BJD may get their new chiefs. 

The ruling party’s internal organisational review is drawing to a close. After booth presidents, the selection process for Mandal presidents is underway. Then the Saffron party will shift its focus to the selection of presidents of the districts and the state. 

Since the BJP has formed the government in Odisha for the first time, it has many challenges. So it is being discussed that who will be the next president of the state BJP. 

Since Panchayat and Municipality elections are to be held in the coming days, the party may consider for a leader who is well capable of coordinating between the government and the organisation and translating the party’s agendas into action. 

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Sources suggest that Manmohan Samal may once again assume the mantle as he played a vital role in the party forming the government with a majority. Discussions are also ongoing about other potential leaders including Golak Mahapatra and Sameer Mohanty.

“The selection of Booth Samiti presidents has finished and the process for Mandal Samiti presidents is underway. It will finish in a day or two. Thereafter, the presidents for the districts will be elected. Then the state president will be elected. The process will end in January. There will be a new team. But it doesn’t mean that the new team will have only new members. It will have new as well as old members,” said BJP MP Pratap Sarangi. 

In the ever-evolving political arena of Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is navigating internal challenges despite the steady hand of its leader, Naveen Patnaik. The party is yet to constitute a state level committee. Under these circumstances, there are discussions that the party may have a leader. 

It is being discussed that Patnaik will remain to be the Supremo of the party and a senior leader might take on a key strategic role. Previously, the responsibilities fell to Pranab Prakash Das, acting as the organisational secretary, though dissatisfaction has lingered following electoral setbacks. To address these concerns, Debi Prasad Mishra has been appointed as the interim head of a 15-member coordination committee, which signals possible organisational reformation. It seems likely that experienced leaders capable of managing discontent will be awarded the crucial position. Since the party is emphasising on senior leaders after the party’s drubbing in the 2024 General Elections, it might pick anyone from among Debi Prasad Mishra, Prasanna Acharya, Sanjay Dasburma, Atanu Sabyasachi.

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“Our membership drive has completed and only the election is to be held. Naveen Patanik will take a call on everything regarding the election,” said BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera.    

On the other hand, the Congress party is grappling with its own leadership vacuum post-election. The party has entrusted the responsibility of finding a leader with Charan Das Mahant and Meenakshi Natarajan. Meanwhile, these figures have engaged with local leaders in Odisha, though a final decision continues to be elusive. Unverified reports suggest the central leadership is in search of a youthful and dynamic face to rejuvenate the party's image. Among the contenders for this role are prominent Congress figures such as Bhakta Das, Mohammed Moquim, Srikant Jena, and MP Saptagiri Ulaka.

“The party is looking for such a candidate who will salvage the party. It may be the reason for the delay,” said senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik.