BJP State prez name to be declared soon

--Jual Oram completes 3-yr in office

BHUBANESWAR: Top State leaders of BJP are waiting for the final decision of the Central leaders on the next State chief of the party as the present president Jual Oram completed three year in his office on Sunday. Seven top leaders of the State have gone Delhi to meet BJP national chief Nitin Gadkari, according to sources, the name of the State chief would be declared soon.

The national leaders are giving importance on the State chief for the next term which would cover the most important 2014 general election, said the sources, adding, the State chief should be equipped with good leadership qualities who can lead the team forward during the general election.

In order to discuss the matter, BJP national general secretary Narendra Singh Tomar and party Odisha-in-charge Santosh Gangwar had visited the State on December 13. They have taken opinions from the executive body members in the central, State and district-level committees regarding the election of an appropriate candidate.

The Central Observers have submitted the report before the national chief of the party. Gadkari would discuss with the State leaders about the next State chief of the party on Monday. After the discussion, the name would be finalized, said the party sources.

“We would give the responsibility to an appropriate candidate of the party keeping eye on eligibility criteria of the leader. We have very good people in the State BJP to take the responsibility,” said national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The party was busy with Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly election for which reason the selection was delayed. The party’s State committee would get it’s next president before the new year,” said State BJP vice-president and spokesman Ashok Sahu. 

General Secretary Basant Panda and Nayan Mohanty are in the race for the president post, while Oram said the selection would be held in mutual understanding, otherwise there would be election.