Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Manmohan Samal is all set to be the president of the Odisha BJP for a second consecutive term, with no other contenders filing nominations for the post.

Samal submitted his nomination papers on Monday for the state unit’s presidential election. The party is expected to officially declare his appointment on July 8.

This will mark Samal’s third term as the Odisha BJP president. He previously held the post from 1999 to 2004, and was appointed again in March 2023.

Manmohan Samal is widely credited with steering the party to a historic victory in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, ending the BJD’s 24-year reign and enabling the BJP to form its first-ever government in the state. However, he himself lost the Assembly election from the Chandabali constituency in Bhadrak district.

Despite the electoral setback, Samal’s leadership and organisational skills have earned him strong backing within the party, paving the way for his continued role at the helm.