The BJP Legislature Party in Odisha will convene on Tuesday to elect its leader, who will subsequently become the state’s new Chief Minister. The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is scheduled for the following day, as confirmed by a senior party leader.
The BJP recently achieved a significant victory, securing 78 out of 147 seats in the Odisha Assembly and winning 20 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Manmohan Samal, the state BJP president, is considered a strong contender for the Chief Minister’s position despite his narrow loss in the Chandabali Assembly seat by 1,916 votes. Other potential candidates include former state BJP chief Suresh Pujari and Girish Murmu, who previously served as Narendra Modi’s principal secretary during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. However, the party may surprise with an unexpected choice, similar to recent CM appointments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupendra Yadav have been assigned to oversee the selection process. Additionally, a roadshow featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bhubaneswar is proposed before the swearing-in ceremony.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will visit Rae Bareli on Wednesday to express gratitude to voters following the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi, the Rae Bareli MP, along with Kishori Lal Sharma, who defeated former Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi, will address party workers at the Bhuvemau guest house. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is also expected to attend the event.
The Congress will launch its “Dhanyawad Yatra” across Uttar Pradesh from Wednesday, with local leaders, MPs, and candidates engaging with the public to thank them. This initiative will run until June 15.
