BJP latest news Archives - Odisha Connect

BJP Chief Nitin Nabin Announces New 65-Member National Team

OdishaConnect — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:54:18 +0000

BJP national president Nitin Nabin has announced his new 65-member national team, nearly eight months after taking charge of the party. The new team includes 13 national vice-presidents, eight national general secretaries and 16 national secretaries, combining experienced leaders with grassroots workers.

The reshuffle comes with the BJP preparing to strengthen its organisation ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in seven states. Around 40% of the team members are from socially underrepresented communities, while 12 women have been included.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the newly appointed leaders and said the new team would work to strengthen the BJP and focus on public service.

Key Appointments

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and senior leader Ram Madhav have been appointed national vice-presidents. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani has been made a national general secretary, while Piyush Goyal has been appointed national treasurer.

The national vice-presidents also include Baijayant Panda, Tirath Singh Rawat, D. Purandeswari, Rekha Verma, Bharati Pravin Pawar and others.

B.L. Santosh will continue as national general secretary (organisation), with Shiv Prakash and Saudan Singh serving as national joint general secretaries (organisation).

Amit Malviya Loses IT Role

A major change has been made in the party’s digital wing. Amit Malviya has been removed from his responsibility in the BJP’s IT and social media division after around 11 years.

Deepak Mahaske from Chhattisgarh has been appointed national social media coordinator. Preeti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt and Arun Yadav have been appointed social media co-coordinators.

Two Odisha Leaders Get Key Roles

Two leaders from Odisha have secured positions in the new team. Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda has been appointed national vice-president.

Meanwhile, Puri MP Sambit Patra has been named the BJP’s Northeast coordinator.

The new appointments are aimed at strengthening the party’s organisational structure, improving regional representation and preparing the BJP for upcoming elections.

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Amit Shah, Odisha Minister Praise Dharmendra Pradhan’s Sacrifice After Resignation as Union Education Minister

OdishaConnect — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 04:20:47 +0000

A day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed his decision, describing it as an example of dedication, accountability and commitment to the nation’s youth.

In a post on social media, Shah said that for a BJP worker, the nation always comes before any position. He stated that Pradhan’s resignation reflected the party’s commitment to placing the interests of students and young people above political office.

Referring to the recent controversy over the NEET examination, Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government remains firmly committed to respecting the aspirations of the country’s youth, taking stringent action against paper leaks and introducing necessary reforms in the examination system. He expressed confidence that the measures taken by the government would ensure justice for deserving students who cleared the NEET examination on merit.

The Home Minister also highlighted Pradhan’s achievements during his tenure as Education Minister, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, expansion of examinations in regional languages, strengthening of PM SHRI schools and promotion of digital education. Shah said Pradhan’s dedication and sacrifice had further strengthened India’s resolve to become a developed nation.

Meanwhile, Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj also shared an emotional message on social media following Pradhan’s resignation.

Suraj said Pradhan’s decision had deeply moved those who had closely witnessed his political journey and drawn inspiration from his leadership. He remarked that Pradhan had never shied away from responsibility and had chosen accountability over excuses, even though he was not personally responsible for the circumstances that led to the controversy.

According to Suraj, Pradhan placed the future of students above his ministerial position and worked sincerely to ensure action against those responsible for irregularities, restore the credibility of the examination process and rebuild the trust of NEET aspirants and their parents.

The Odisha minister further said that Pradhan’s contribution to the nation could not be overshadowed by a single controversy. He credited Pradhan for transformative initiatives ranging from the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which improved the lives of millions of women, to his leadership in implementing the landmark National Education Policy 2020.

Suraj concluded that the country would continue to remember Pradhan’s contributions to governance, education reforms and nation-building.

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Debashish Samantaray Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha on BJP Ticket

OdishaConnect — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:43:45 +0000

Senior leader Debashish Samantaray has been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, after being the only candidate in the by-election. As no other nomination was filed, voting was not required, resulting in his uncontested election to the Upper House.

By-election Held After Resignation from BJD

The by-election was conducted following Samantaray’s resignation from both the Rajya Sabha and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). He had previously served as a Rajya Sabha MP representing the BJD.

According to reports, he resigned from the party and his parliamentary membership on May 25, submitting his resignation to BJD president Naveen Patnaik and also meeting the Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan to formally complete the process.

Sharp Criticism of BJD After Exit

Soon after leaving the BJD, Samantaray publicly criticised the party, alleging internal restrictions and dissatisfaction within the organisation. He stated that he felt “restricted” while in the party and also questioned certain party practices, including its approach to legacy and leadership related to Biju Patnaik.

His remarks triggered political discussion in Odisha’s political circles, especially given his long association with the BJD.

Joining BJP in Delhi

Just a day after resigning from the BJD, on May 26, Samantaray joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi.

He formally joined the party at the BJP headquarters in the presence of Odisha BJP state president Manmohan Samal and party observer Vijaypal Singh Tomar.

Unopposed Election Strengthens BJP Position

With Samantaray being the sole candidate in the by-election, the BJP effectively secured the Rajya Sabha seat without contest. His unopposed election is seen as a significant political development in Odisha’s evolving political landscape.

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