Veteran leader Manmohan Samal has once again taken charge as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Odisha unit. This marks yet another term for Samal, who previously served as state president from 1999 to 2000, again from 2000 to 2004, and since March 2023.
Samal, a seasoned politician, has also held positions as a state minister and Member of the Legislative Assembly. His latest appointment follows a critical role in the BJP’s success during the 2024 general elections in Odisha, where he was instrumental in guiding the party to power despite formidable opposition and organizational challenges. His leadership is seen as a unifying force within the state unit as the party aims to consolidate its gains.
Samal has been heading the state unit since March 23, 2023 and led the party to a massive victory in the 2024 Assembly polls while sweeping the Lok Sabha seats from Odisha.
Earlier, he was elected twice to the post in 1999 and 2001. On his imminent election as state party president, Samal said, “I have always worked as an ordinary worker of the BJP. The party’s decision is a recognition of collective efforts, not individual achievement.”
Speaking to mediapersons, Jaiswal said, “I have been assigned the task of an observer for this organisational election by the party’s national president JP Nadda.
I have received 32 nominations for the national council members and one for the state president. A formal announcement will be made tomorrow (Tuesday).” Earlier in the day, Bargarh MP Pradip Purohit, another aspirant for the post, indicated that he had withdrawn from the race.
Speaking to mediapersons, Purohit said, he was a disciplined worker of the party and will abide by the decision taken by the leadership. The other names that have been doing the rounds were state BJP vice-president Golak Mohapatra and Kandh a m a l MP Sukanta Panigrahi.
