Naveen Patnaik elected BJD president for 7th term

Announcing Mr. Patnaik’s election as the regional party’s chief, returning officer Pratap Keshari Deb said as many as 80 state executive members have also been elected with the completion of organisational poll process which had commenced in the last week of December.

The announcement of Mr. Patnaik’s election was a mere formality as he was the lone candidate to file nomination papers for the post. Mr. Patnaik is the founder president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which came into being after the death of Biju Patnaik in 1997. The party’s organisational elections are held every three years.

Soon after the announcement of election results, Mr. Patnaik thanked the supporters and asked the ministers to guide the workers of the party. Noting that BJD has become a powerful regional party, Mr. Patnaik said its significance in the national politics has also increased considerably.

The party’s most important strength is that it has won the trust and confidence of the people of Odisha, he said. Describing Odisha’s prosperity and pride as BJD’s goal, Mr. Patnaik said the party’s battle against “historic negligence” towards the state has raised the faith of the people in BJD which aims at ensuring inclusive growth.

The ruling party has programmes for all sections of society starting from farmers to labourers, women, students, youths, tribals and dalits.