Suspense Continues Over Leader Of Opposition In Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The BJP’s legislature party meeting remained inconclusive on Sunday, as the party MLAs failed to elect a leader.

Since the BJP had emerged as the main Opposition in Odisha after the elections, it would stake claim for the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the 16th State Legislative Assembly. The first session of the Assembly begins on Tuesday.

“The party’s national president, Amit Shah, will take a final decision in two days,” Dhamnagar MLA Bishnu Charan Sethi said after a meeting at the party’s state headquarters here this evening.

The party’s national general secretary and central observer Saroj Pandey, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha-in-charge Arun Singh and other senior leaders were present at the meeting.

Sambalpur MLA Jayanarayan Mishra and Bhawanipatna MLA Pradipta Naik are reportedly in the race for the post.

Speculation was ripe that Jayanarayan could pip other contenders in the race and his selection could be announced at the meeting of the party MLAs.