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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken significant steps in appointing new leadership for Odisha. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav have been named as central observers for selecting the Chief Minister of Odisha. This announcement was made by Arun Singh, the National General Secretary of BJP, in an official release on Sunday.

 

In his statement, Arun Singh said, "The Parliamentary Board of the Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed Mr. Rajnath Singh, Union Minister, Government of India, and Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister, Government of India, as central observers for the election of the leader of the party’s legislative assembly in Odisha." This decision underlines the BJP's strategic approach to ensuring a smooth transition of leadership in the state.

 

Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav, who both took oath as Cabinet Ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9, are now entrusted with the crucial task of overseeing the election of Odisha’s new Chief Minister. Their roles as central observers are pivotal in shaping the political landscape of the state.

 

Dillip Mohanty, BJP spokesperson and in-charge of the oath-taking ceremony, confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister of Odisha is scheduled for June 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event, highlighting the importance of this transition for the BJP.

 

Mohanty stated, "The oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister of the newly-elected BJP Government in Odisha will now be held on June 12. PM Modi will be present for the oath ceremony."

 

In a related development, VK Pandian, a prominent leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and a close aide of caretaker Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, announced his retirement from active politics following the party’s defeat in both the Odisha assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

 

Pandian, an IAS officer of the 2000 batch, served as private secretary to Naveen Patnaik for over two decades. He joined the BJD in 2023 after taking voluntary retirement from the bureaucracy.

 

The Biju Janata Dal faced a significant setback in the Odisha assembly polls, losing to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which marked the end of Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year reign.

 

The BJP secured 78 seats in the 147-seat assembly, while the BJD managed to win only 51 seats, falling short of the majority mark of 74. The Indian National Congress secured 14 seats.

 

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP's performance was also noteworthy, securing 20 out of the 21 parliamentary seats in the state. The remaining seat was won by the Congress.

 

This political shift in Odisha marks a new chapter for the state, with the BJP poised to establish its governance and steer the region towards its envisioned future.

 

The appointment of experienced leaders like Rajnath Singh and Bhupender Yadav as central observers signifies the BJP's commitment to a seamless leadership transition and the party’s broader strategy to strengthen its foothold in Odisha.