TV
Veteran tribal leader and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Jual Oram, on Saturday officially declared that he will no longer contest elections. Speaking at a Rozgar Mela (employment fair) held in Sambalpur, Oram reiterated his earlier announcement that he would not run for either MP or MLA positions in the future.
“I had already made it clear during the last elections that I would not contest for Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha seats again. Now it is time to pave the way for the younger generation,” said Oram, underlining his commitment to pass the baton of leadership.
Despite stepping away from direct electoral contests, Oram affirmed that he will continue to serve the party. “I am very much in the BJP and will carry out whatever responsibility the party assigns to me,” he assured.
According to Oram, there are options for him to go to Rajya Sabha or become a Governor of a state.
“It is my decision not to contest, but if the party says, I will contest. I have already contested for direct elections 10 times. I am ready to pave way for the younger generation,” said Oram.
Jual Oram’s Career
Jual Oram, a four-time MP from Sundargarh, was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998. Since then, he has played a significant role in national politics and has served as a Minister in both Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's and Narendra Modi ’s cabinets.
His political journey has been marked by a consistent focus on tribal welfare and regional development. With his announcement, a significant chapter in Odisha’s tribal politics comes to a close, making way for fresh leadership to emerge in the region.
