Union Health Minister and BJP National President J.P. Nadda engaged in significant discussions with top Odisha BJP leaders during his two-day visit to the state.
The meetings, held at the state guest house in Bhubaneswar, have fueled speculation regarding the appointment of a new president for the party’s state unit.
Key Discussions with State Leadership
On Friday evening, Nadda met with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, State BJP In-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar, Organisational Secretary Manas Mohanty, Vice President Golak Mohapatra, and former Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu. The meeting, lasting over an hour, is believed to have focused on organizational matters, including the selection of a new state president and strategies to enhance coordination between the party organization and the state government. However, party leaders described the discussions as informal.
State BJP President Samal stated that no formal deliberations occurred concerning the selection of the new party president, emphasizing the informal nature of the meeting. He further clarified that he has never been a contender for the position in the past, present, or future.
Courtesy Visit to the Governor
Following the internal discussions, Nadda paid a courtesy visit to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at the Raj Bhavan. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Majhi, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and Odisha BJP President Samal. The Governor acknowledged the visit on his social media account, stating, “Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, paid a courtesy visit to me today at Raj Bhavan.”
Participation in National Health Mission Summit
Earlier on Friday, Nadda inaugurated the ninth National Summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovation in the Public Healthcare System in Puri. The summit, organized by the National Health Mission, aimed to showcase and deliberate on innovations in public healthcare. During the event, Nadda highlighted the exponential growth of the Ayush sector in India over the past decade, citing initiatives like the Ayush Visa, AI-driven research, and the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar as evidence of India’s leadership in evidence-based traditional medicine.
Speculations on New State BJP President
Nadda’s visit comes amid ongoing speculation about the appointment of a new president for the BJP’s Odisha unit. The party’s state in-charge, Vijaypal Singh Tomar, had earlier indicated that the election for the state president would be held in the first week of January. However, as of February 28, no official announcement has been made, leading to increased anticipation within party ranks.
The recent meetings and Nadda’s interactions with state leaders are viewed as crucial steps in finalizing the leadership to strengthen the party’s position in Odisha ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.
