BJD To Hold Crucial Meeting On Sept 27 To Decide Future Steps After Poll Debacle In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Stung by severe differences among party leaders after the electoral debacle in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is set to hold a crucial meeting on September 27 in a bid to keep the organisation united and instil confidence among workers.

BJD president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly Naveen Patnaik will chair the meeting, which will see the participation of senior leaders and district presidents.

Aimed at ensuring unity among leaders, the meeting will hold detailed discussions on the strategies and future course of steps to strengthen the party, senior BJD leader and chairman of party’s coordination committee Debi Prasad Mishra told reporters.

The former Minister said that a detailed discussion will be held on the party’s upcoming padyatra, formation of new committees and other organisational issues.

Party chief Naveen Patnaik will also undertake a statewide tour from November to meet people and party workers, he said.

This apart, party workers and leaders from different parts of the state have been holding interactions with Naveen Patnaik on steps required to further strengthen the organisation, he said adding that leaders from 20 districts have already held detailed discussion with the party president.

Though BJD is now in opposition, it secured substantial number of votes in the recent simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and Naveen Patnaik continues to be in the hearts of the people of the state, Mishra said.