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It was under Samal’s leadership that the BJP registered unprecedented success in the last Lok Sabha and assembly elections held simultaneously
Odisha has a 50% OBC population, and Samal, himself from that community, provides crucial representation. File pic/X
In a party like the BJP, it is uncommon for leaders to be repeated in top organisational roles. However, during the ongoing organisational elections in Odisha, the Bharatiya Janata Party has made an exception by reappointing Manmohan Samal as the state president. His reappointment, though rare, has not surprised many, largely due to his strong performance and track record.
It was under Samal’s leadership that the BJP registered unprecedented success in the last Lok Sabha and assembly elections held simultaneously. The party not only wiped out the Biju Janata Dal from the Lok Sabha map of Odisha but also managed to end the long reign of Naveen Patnaik’s government in the state, an outcome few had imagined possible.
Insiders reveal that Samal played a key role in shaping the party’s independent strategy. At a time when several central leaders believed that an alliance with the BJD was necessary for electoral gains in the eastern state, it was Samal who stood firm against any such tie-up. He consistently conveyed to the central leadership that the BJP was capable of securing a strong mandate on its own, and the results vindicated his position.
His return also holds social significance. Odisha has a 50% OBC population, and Samal, himself from that community, provides crucial representation. This aligns with the party’s strategy of nurturing leaders with strong local and social roots.
This will be Samal’s second consecutive term and his fourth overall as state president. His previous terms were November 1999-October 2000, October 2000-May 2004, and March 2023-July 2025.
Hailing from the Bhadrak district, Samal has long-standing ties with the Sangh Parivar, starting with his involvement in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1979. He rose through the BJP ranks, became a Rajya Sabha member in 2000, contested the assembly elections in 2004, and even served as a minister in the BJP-BJD alliance government.
The BJP’s recent approach—seen in states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—has been to promote homegrown leaders with deep connections to the organisation or the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), rather than inducting state presidents from other parties. With a new government in power and the need to further strengthen the BJP’s base in Odisha, Samal’s blend of organisational and governance experience makes him an ideal choice to lead the party in its newly established stronghold.
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