Odisha BJP likely to get new chief on Thursday

After four years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha is likely to see a new chief on Thursday with senior party officials working overtime to get a consensus candidate. With BJP gaining the status of principal Opposition party in the state in the 2019 assembly poll, the post of state BJP chief has assumed significance.

After four years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha is likely to see a new chief on Thursday with senior party officials working overtime to get a consensus candidate.

Former Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram is in the race to become the new chief of Odisha BJP. (PTI Photo)

With BJP gaining the status of principal Opposition party in the state in the 2019 assembly poll, the post of state BJP chief has assumed significance. The post of the Odisha BJP president had fallen vacant after incumbent chief Basanta Panda was elected MP from Kalahandi during 2019 general elections.

Panda, 58, had taken over as party chief in January 2016.

Though former Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram, deputy leader of Opposition Bishnu Sethi, former party MLA KV Singhdeo and state general secretary Prithwiraj Harichandan are in the race, party sources said state vice president Sameer Mohanty is tipped to be the new president.

Mohanty, 56, was a senior functionary of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of RSS before he joined BJP. In 2009, he had unsuccessfully contested from Bhubaneswar-Ekamra assembly constituency on BJP ticket.

The party will also select 21 national council members from 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state who will cast their votes in the election of national president.