Change Of Guard In Odisha BJP By December End: Arun Singh

Bhubaneswar: The State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will soon get its new chief. The saffron party's Odisha in-charge Arun Singh today informed that State party president election will be completed by the end of December.

“The BJP district presidents and State council members will elect the new chief of the party. We can’t say who will be the next president prior to the election process which is expected to be over in December,” said Singh adding that BJP is the only party where there is internal democracy.

Speaking on the same, former State BJP president Manmohan Samal said that following the completion of the party district presidents’ election, a date will be fixed for the party chief election.

While names of former State BJP presidents KV Singhdeo, Manmohan Samal, Jual Oram and Suresh Pujari are making rounds for the top post, many believe that the BJP may bring in a new face this time.

BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty is believed to be one of the top contenders to lead the State unit of the party.

“Only after taking into account several aspects, the State and Central leadership will take a decision whether the position will once again go to western Odisha or not. There is no rift within the party over the president post as there are no aspirants. Whoever is given the charge, will discharge his duties as a disciplined worker of the party,” said Samal.

It is pertinent to mention here that the State unit of BJP continues to be led by party leaders from western Odisha since 2004, and so there is every possibility that the party might repose faith on Basant Panda, who presently holds the coveted post of the saffron party in Odisha.