BHUBANESWAR: Amid accelerated moves to select the new state BJP president, the party’s national president and Union Health minister JP Nadda had a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other key leaders at the state guest house here on Friday evening.
Nadda was on a two-day visit to Odisha to attend the national summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovations in India’s Healthcare System at Puri. On his return to Bhubaneswar, he met the chief minister, state BJP president Manmohan Samal, organising secretary Manas Mohanty, party’s co-in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and several other functionaries including vice-president Golak Mohapatra.
While speculations are rife that incumbent ad hoc president Manmohan Samal may get another chance, Mohapatra is also a strong contender for the post.
“We do not know what conspired between Nadda and the state leaders who met him. The national president might have taken the views of the chief minister and other senior leaders on their preferred choice to lead the party in the state. He will apprise the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah,” said a senior leader, who was present at the state guest house, the venue of the meeting.
Nadda’s meeting with Majhi and other party leaders took place two days after national general secretary Tarun Chugh deliberates on the matter here on February 26.
“It is quite evident that the race for the post of the state president is getting tough as the party is unable to find a consensus candidate after several rounds of meetings attended by top national functionaries. The scenario of the party is no different at national-level, as the central election committee is yet to fix a date for election of the national president,” said another leader.
Describing all these meeting as mere optics, the BJP leader said, everything will be decided at Delhi. “When there is no chance of a contest, everyone will accept the decision of the central leadership,” he said.