In a significant development for Odisha politics, senior BJP leader and former minister Manmohan Samal was on Wednesday re-elected unopposed as the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a fourth time. The announcement was made at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar after Samal emerged as the sole candidate to file nomination on Monday.
Party Cadre Celebrates, Samal Promotes Unity
The announcement sparked celebrations among party workers, who gathered at Samal’s residence chanting slogans and hailing his leadership for transforming the BJP into a vibrant force in the state. Many praised his ‘one-district one-party formula’ that has reshaped the party’s grassroots structure.
Speaking to the gathering, Samal struck a humble tone. “If I have wronged anyone during my tenure, I seek forgiveness. Alone we can do so little, but together we can achieve so much,” he said. Acknowledging the collective efforts of party workers, Samal emphasized teamwork as the party’s core strength.
He reflected on the party’s journey from the margins to the mainstream, stating, “We have risen from ground zero to now forming a government. But this is just the beginning. Governance is not easy, especially amid financial constraints. Implementation of our promises is the true test.” He pledged relentless effort until Odisha reaches full development by 2036 and India by 2047.
A Shared Vision with Mohan Majhi Government
Samal expressed confidence in working in tandem with the BJP’s first independent government in Odisha, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. “We have a capable chief minister and a team of committed workers. We will be a pillar of support to the government and stand by the people,” he asserted.
His re-election comes on the back of BJP’s resounding victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the party bagged 20 out of 21 seats in Odisha and formed the state government independently for the first time.
Chief Minister Majhi lauded Samal’s leadership as a “blessing,” highlighting his past tenures that brought the BJP to power, both in coalition and now independently. In a lighter vein, Majhi dismissed the comparison of their duo to a “horse pair” but predicted that the Samal-Majhi partnership would drive Odisha to greater heights. “We’ve just done 12 years — we could as well stretch it to 112,” he quipped.
Leaders Hail the ‘Triple M’ Leadership Model
The event witnessed tributes from top BJP leaders. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari described the ‘Mohan-Manmohan’ duo as the driving force for transformation in Odisha in the next three years. Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda credited the BJP’s electoral success to Samal’s strategic leadership, while Puri MP Sambit Patra coined the term ‘Triple M’ — Modi, Mohan, and Manmohan — as the new pillar of Odisha’s political landscape.
Patra described Samal as a party veteran who has selflessly devoted himself to organizational building and ideological work.
Formal Announcement and Presence of Top Leaders
Samal’s unopposed election was officially announced by senior BJP leader Sanjay Jaiswal, who handed him the certificate of election. The event was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, state in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar, co-in-charge Lata Usendi, MP and election officer Pratap Chandra Sarangi, and former state president Basant Panda.
The show of unity at the event signaled a strong and cohesive leadership within Odisha BJP as it prepares for its next phase of governance and organizational expansion.
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