Bhubaneswar: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manmohan Samal has officially filed his nomination for the post of Odisha State President of the party. The nomination process, held at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar, was conducted in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, central observers, and senior party functionaries—signaling a moment of political consolidation within the Odisha BJP.
Samal is widely expected to retain the post unopposed, as no other candidate has filed nomination papers for the position. This reflects the strong backing and widespread confidence he enjoys within the party. His re-election is now seen as a mere formality, with the official announcement expected tomorrow, following a scheduled scrutiny of nomination papers between 10 AM and 11 AM.
The nomination process for both the state president and national council members was overseen by election officer Pratap Sarangi and national observer Sanjay Jaiswal, and held from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM today. Alongside Samal, 32 candidates submitted nominations for positions on the party’s national council.
A Leader of Experience and Influence
Manmohan Samal, born on April 15, 1959 in Bhadrak district, is a seasoned politician with deep roots in Odisha’s political landscape. An alumnus of Bhadrak College, he was first elected as student union president in 1979 and became actively involved with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) before rising through the BJP’s ranks.
He has served multiple terms as the BJP Odisha State President, having earlier held key portfolios including Revenue Minister and Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare in the Odisha government. In 2004, he was elected as an MLA from Dhamnagar constituency.
In the 2024 Odisha Assembly Elections, Samal’s leadership was widely credited with the BJP’s historic victory, which ended the Biju Janata Dal’s 24-year rule in the state. His strategic grassroots mobilization, coupled with effective messaging and organizational expansion, was instrumental in enabling the BJP to form a government in Odisha for the first time.
The nomination event drew top party leaders and functionaries, showcasing organizational unity and reinforcing Samal’s status as a central pillar of the Odisha BJP. Although there was earlier speculation that the party might opt for a new face—with names like Pradeep Purohit, Sukanta Panigrahi, and Golak Mohapatra doing the rounds—Samal’s unopposed nomination has now put such speculation to rest.
The election process involves 273 delegates from 37 organizational districts, including state council members, district presidents, and elected public representatives such as two Lok Sabha MPs, one Rajya Sabha MP, and five MLAs.
With Samal as the sole candidate, and his nomination widely endorsed by party heavyweights, his re-election is virtually assured—setting the stage for continuity in leadership as the BJP seeks to consolidate its hold on Odisha ahead of future electoral battles.
