Bhubaneswar: Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday filed his nomination for the post of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president at the party’s state headquarters, Shankha Bhawan, in Bhubaneswar. With no other contenders in the fray, Patnaik is expected to be elected unopposed for a record ninth consecutive term. The official announcement is scheduled for April 19 (Saturday).
Statement Of SRO For Party's Organisational Elections
“The nomination window was open from 10 am to 1 pm today. We received only one nomination—from Naveen Patnaik. His election as president will be formally declared on April 19 at Shankha Bhawan,” said Pratap Deb, the state returning officer for the party’s organisational elections, during a press briefing.
On April 15, the BJD declared the names of 18 district presidents, all of whom were elected unopposed in the fourth phase of the ongoing internal elections. The final phase will see the formation of the State Council.
The six-phase election process is aimed at reinforcing the party’s internal framework, especially in the wake of rising dissent following the party’s poor performance in the 2024 elections and recent differences that surfaced during the Rajya Sabha vote on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
