Four-day session begins at Odisha BJP HQ before organisational polls

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 6: 

Odisha unit of BJP today started a four-day long brainstorming session at its Bhubaneswar headquarters on the eve of the district and state level organisational polls.

The meeting is being attended by executives, elected representatives, other senior leaders of the party and BJP Odisha in charge Arun Singh.

As per sources in the party, on the first day today, emphasis was laid to wrap up the district level presidential polls as soon as possible. Out of the 36 organisational districts of the party, discussions were held on possible candidates for nine of the districts today. Besides, candidate selection on consensus basis was also being given a priority.

Earlier on November 29, the party had a similar brainstorming session, where it was decided to finish the organisational polls by January.

‘We have already completed the polls for 735 mandal (circle) presidents in the state. Earlier there used to be 451 circles in the state. Now it is the turn of district presidents. Here, we have called various people and contenders to discuss the issue. We are going to hold consultations with all key figures and stakeholders before zeroing in on the candidates,” said Arun Singh speaking to reporters outside the venue.

“We would prefer candidates that are energetic, willing to travel, can tap on the anti-incumbency factor against the Naveen government and take the issue of misgovernance to the people across all platforms,” he added.

If sources inside the party are to be believed, the state president contest have boiled down to two candidate with Leader of BJP Legislative Party Basant Panda leading the race while incumbent KV Singh Deo also vying to retain his office.