KV tipped to lead state BJP unit

Bhubaneswar: Speculation is rife that four-time Patnagarh MLA KV Singhdeo is going head the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Highly placed party sources said the BJP high command is most likely to formally announce the name of Singhdeo after the Central core committee meeting in New Delhi today. State party leaders too have confirmed that central leadership of the party has held discussions with them regarding the latest move.

Singhdeo had submitted his resignation as the BJP legislator party leader before monsoon session of the state Assembly last year to send a strong message to the high command about the widening difference between him and the outgoing president Oram. Though his resignation was not accepted, it was loud and clear that the Singhdeo camp wanted to resolve the issue as soon as possible with the baton to their leader.

The party’s state unit has been in a limbo after the three-year tenure of Jual Oram as the president ended in December and the Central high command asked the state party leaders to find a consensus candidate.

The state leaders failed to appoint a successor promptly and the ball fell on the Central leadership’s court to decide on the matter. Several meetings between party’s State and Central leaders to resolve the deadlock came a cropper.

The issue was referred back to the State unit, but senior leaders of the State again could not arrive at a consensus. It was initially thought that the race was between Nayan Mohanty and Basant Panda. Mohanty is believed to be a protégé of Oram and Panda belonged to the rival camp.

Rajnath Singh after being elected as party president had announced that the vacant state unit president posts will be filled by March 10.