Manmohan Samal is poised for a smooth return as Odisha BJP president, having emerged as the only candidate to file nomination papers for the post on Monday. The incumbent leader submitted his nomination before Odisha BJP Election Officer and MP Pratap Sarangi, in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, central observer Sanjay Jaiswal, and other senior party officials.

With no opposition for the post, Samal is expected to be declared elected unopposed on Tuesday. Alongside him, several other leaders filed nominations for BJP National Council member positions.

Samal’s re-election is seen as recognition of his leadership in steering the BJP to a landmark victory in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, where the party decisively defeated the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik. Under Samal’s guidance, BJP clinched 78 of the 147 Assembly seats and won 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats from the state, forming a strong government.

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Though the party soared to new heights, Samal faced a personal setback, losing the Chandabali seat in Bhadrak district.

Samal’s political journey with the Odisha BJP leadership includes three previous terms as president, spanning from 1999 to 2004 and from March 2023 until now. He was initially appointed as state president on an adhoc basis in 2023, just ahead of the general elections, and is now set for a full-term tenure.

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