Bhubaneswar: October 17
State BJP president Manmohan Samal has formed his new team, appointing 26 office-bearers and retaining 10 members from his previous 27-member team. Changes were necessary as many leaders were elected to the Assembly or Lok Sabha in 2024, according to sources.
Senior leader and former vice-president Golak Mohapatra, once a contender for state president, has been dropped, as has long-time member Sukeshi Oram. Kusum Tete, former Sundargarh MLA, remains as vice-president. Outgoing vice-presidents dropped include Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Panchayati Raj minister Rabi Narayan Naik, former MLAs Nauri Nayak and Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, and Purnachandra Mohapatra.
Promoted to vice-president are former secretaries Sipra Bajpei (Balasore) and Ramesh Chandra Sahoo (Nabarangpur), former treasurer Sudarshan Goel (Rourkela), former MLA K Narayan Rao (Paralakhemundi), Ashok Mishra (Nayagarh), Shibaji Mohanty (Bolangir), Bhabendra Panda (Kalahandi), and Bishnu Das (Kendrapara). Jatin Mohanty, previously a general secretary, is also now vice-president.
Ten Vice Presidents appointed by Manmohan Samal are Yatin Mohanty (Khorda), Ashok Mishra (Nayagarh), Kusum Tete (Sundergarh), Ramesh Chandra Sahu (Nabarangpur), K. Narayan Rao (Gajapati), Shivaji Mohanty (Balangir), Bhavendra Kumar Panda (Kalahandi), Sipra Bajpayee (Baleswar), Sudarshan Goel (Rourkela), and Vishnu Das (Kendrapara). Sudarshan Goel, who is working as the party’s treasurer, has been included in the committee as vice-president.
Four general secretaries have been appointed: Biranchi Narayan Tripathi (Puri), Sharda Prasad Satapathy (Bhubaneswar), Seemanchal Khatei (Sambalpur), and Purnima Priyadarshini Nayak (Koraput). Biranchi Tripathi, previously vice-president, now takes over as general secretary, while Yatin Mohanty has moved from another role to become vice-president. Meanwhile, Purnima Kerketa of Rourkela, who served as general secretary earlier, has been relieved of her post.
Sarada Prasad Satpathy and Simanchal Khate continue as general secretaries. Purnima Priyadarsani Nayak (Koraput) replaced Purnima Kerketa (Sundargarh) as general secretary, and Manas Kumar Mohanty remains general secretary (organisation).
Similarly, the party’s state secretaries are Saroj Kumar Kar (Cuttack), Kalandi Samal (Angul), Smriti Patnaik (Cuttack), Preeti Pratibha Bhola (Puri), Bhagwan Mohanty (Kandhamal), Pinki Pradhan (Bhubaneswar), Ram Chandra Hansda (Mayurbhanj West), Mamata Singh (Kendujhar), Prithviraj Mahapatra (Ghoomusar-Asika) and Smita Pradhan (Jagatsinghpur).
