The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has appointed Ajit Kumar Mishra, a retired bureaucrat, as Additional Political Secretary to party supremo Naveen Patnaik.
The move comes nearly a year after the appointment of Santrupt Misra as Political Secretary.
Mishra, an OAS officer promoted to IAS rank, has held notable administrative positions, including Nabarangpur collector, joint secretary in Housing and Urban Development, and additional secretary in Health and Family Welfare. His diverse experience in governance aligns well with the BJD’s political strategies.
In an effort to streamline decision-making, Patnaik has also revamped the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). The newly structured PAC, which was originally a high-level advisory body in BJD’s early years, will now be led by Patnaik himself and include senior leaders such as Bikram Keshari Arukh, Pramila Mallick, Niranjan Pujari, Sanjay Kumar Das Burma, Pranab Prakash Das, among others.
The restructuring comes at a time when BJD is expected to reassess its political approach in Odisha, potentially shaping its strategies ahead of future elections. Political analysts suggest that Mishra’s appointment could be part of BJD’s deeper plans to reinforce administrative expertise within its ranks.
With Odisha’s political landscape evolving, these changes signal the party’s focus on experienced leadership to maintain its stronghold.
