Bhubaneswar: The BJP initiated its organisational elections across the state on Monday, beginning with the selection of district unit presidents. This crucial first step precedes the anticipated announcement of the state unit president later this month.
“The nomination process is underway across all organisational districts and should be completed within the next couple of days,” said Sukeshi Oram, senior BJP leader and co-returning officer for the organisational elections. Party insiders confirmed that the announcement of the new state unit president is expected to be made before the end of this month, sparking widespread speculation about potential candidates for the top position.
The district-level elections mark a significant phase in BJP’s organisational restructuring in Odisha, setting the stage for the party’s leadership transition at the state level. Single nominations have been filed for most of the 37 organisational units as the ruling party tries for unanimous selection of the office-bearers.
As per the process, the district unit presidents will give their stamp of approval to the state president, who in turn will vote for the national president as the BJP looks for a replacement for JP Nadda at the top position.
In Odisha, BJP insiders said incumbent state president Manmohan Samal, who was named party chief in Mar 2023, months before last year’s Lok Sabha and assembly elections, may be retained. Samal led the party to victory in the twin elections and has not completed even two years in the post, which is generally a three-year term.
Besides Samal, Golak Mohapatra and Sukeshi Oram are among the frontrunners for the position. Mohapatra, known for his strong RSS background and more than three-decade-long association with the party, brings significant organisational experience to the table. Meanwhile, Oram’s candidature holds significance as she could become the first woman to lead the party’s state unit.
Political analysts feel Oram’s selection could align with BJP’s broader strategy, considering the implementation of 33% reservation for women in the 2029 Lok Sabha and assembly elections. However, party insiders indicate that her appointment might face geographical constraints, as both she and current chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi hail from Keonjhar district.
“The party would typically avoid having both the state unit president and CM from the same district,” a senior BJP leader said. The party leadership may also consider candidates beyond these apparent frontrunners, sources added, suggesting the final decision could surprise political observers.