Bhubaneswar: There was no discussion on cabinet expansion in Odisha, BJP state president Manmohan Samal told the media on Saturday after returning from Delhi.
“There was no discussion about cabinet expansion. It is unlikely at the moment. The meetings focused entirely on organisational matters. Appointment of new chairpersons of different boards and corporations will be made at the appropriate time,” he said.
Manmohan further stated that the BJP in Odisha will see a major internal organisational restructuring. “A new organisational committee will soon be formed. The committee will include both old and new faces, 25% new entrants expected. Discussions are underway and more meetings will be held,” he added.
He further clarified that his meetings with central leaders, including a visit to President Droupadi Murmu, were strictly courtesy calls with no political agenda.
He met BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh and prabhari (in-charge) for Odisha Vijaypal Singh Tomar. He also held a meeting with 18 MPs of the party from Odisha in Delhi.
Manmohan’s trip to Delhi soon after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhawan, following which the Governor, in an unusual departure from protocol, visited the official residence of Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on July 21 evening had added fuel to the buzz around a possible ministry expansion. The state BJP chief left for the national capital accompanied by BJP state organisation secretary Manas Mohanty on July 22.
The visit was also intended at getting approval of the central leadership to finalise the team of state office bearers as an organisational rejig had become imperative, party sources said.
After assuming charge as BJP chief in Odisha earlier this month, Samal had confirmed that the party was actively working on appointment of new chairpersons of different boards and corporations and internal organisational restructuring. He also hinted at an imminent expansion of the state cabinet with six ministerial berths currently lying vacant.