Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal’s Delhi visit sparks speculation over board, corporation appointments

Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal embarked on a visit to Delhi on Monday, triggering fresh speculation over long-pending appointments to various boards and corporations in the state. Sources reported that party insiders believe that his current tour could prove decisive in finalising names for these key positions, which have been vacant for months.

Samal, who reached Delhi earlier today, is expected to meet several senior BJP leaders during his stay. His discussions are likely to cover both organisational matters and the upcoming Vice Presidential election, for which an NDA parliamentary party meeting has been scheduled tomorrow.

According to sources, Samal may hold consultations with BJP MPs from Odisha as part of this exercise.

Board and Corporation Appointments in Focus

While official confirmation is awaited, political circles in Bhubaneswar are abuzz that Samal’s engagements in Delhi could settle the long-debated issue of appointing chairpersons to various state-run boards and corporations.

The suspense around these posts has only intensified in recent weeks, particularly after the recent change of guard in Odisha.

Notably, the BJP’s regional in-charge Sunil Bansal has just concluded his Odisha visit, during which he reportedly held internal discussions with state functionaries. His feedback to the central leadership is also expected to play a role in shaping the decisions.

Cabinet Expansion Buzz

This is not the first time Samal’s Delhi trips have drawn political attention. In July, his visit to the National capital, accompanied by state organisation secretary Manas Mohanty, had sparked speculation over a possible Cabinet expansion in Odisha and filling up of six vacant ministerial berths.

At that time, sources suggested that Samal had also pressed for early decisions on board and corporation appointments.

The speculation gained further weight as Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi had met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati around the same period, fuelling talk of impending structural changes. However, no formal announcements followed.

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Waiting for Central Decisions

Earlier this month, Samal himself clarified that the formation of the new Odisha BJP team would be announced only after the election of the party’s national president. He explained that this was a constitutional practice within the BJP’s organisational framework, and that state-level appointments would follow once the national leadership is finalised.

On the issue of board and corporation chairpersons, he had assured that due internal discussions would be held and due consideration given to organisational responsibilities before arriving at a final list.

With the NDA meeting in Delhi tomorrow and pressure mounting within the Odisha BJP to settle pending appointments, all eyes are now on Samal’s engagements with the central leadership.