BJD Organisation Poll: Naveen Files Nomination Seeking Re-Election As Party Chief

Bhubaneswar: The BJD’s organisation polls, which began on December 27, reached its final stage with nominations being filed for the top post of the party on Sunday.

The incumbent president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik arrived at the BJD office here around 10 am and filed his nominations for the post of the party president with 10 proposers. He submitted his papers with the returning officer Pratap Dev.

The nomination process, however, is being seen as a mere formality as Naveen’s re-election to the post for the eighth time is a foregone conclusion.

He was also chosen unanimously as the party chief last year.

Nominations were also filed for state executive member posts.

The triennial organisational poll of the BJD, which is being held in five phases, will conclude on February 26 with the formal announcement of state executive committee members and state chief.

The first three phases saw election of presidents and committee members of gram panchayats and wards in urban areas, presidents of block committees and members in rural areas and presidents and committee members of Notified Area Councils (NACs) in urban areas and district committee presidents and members.

On February 21, the party declared the list of  33 organisational districts presidents. This fourth-phase poll saw several old hands back in the saddle.

The BJD picked 14 known faces, while 19 were new to organisational matters. Among them were three ministers – Tukuni Sahu (Balangir), Prafulla Mallick (Dhenkanal) and Sudam Marndi (Mayurbhanj).

Keeping an eye on the urban polls later this year, former mayor of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and BJD legislator from Bhubaneswar (Central) Anant Narayan Jena and former MLA Debasis Samantray have been given the charge of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack organisational districts.

Briefing the mediapersons on Sunday, sitting MP and BJD spokesperson Dr Sasmit Patra said, “The party’s prime agenda is Odisha’s development and growth. We will continue to work for its development and that of the residents through people-friendly programmes such as Mo Sarkar and 5T.”