Bhubaneswar, May 18: BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Monday chaired a crucial meeting of the core committee in Odisha, where the party discussed strategies for the upcoming panchayat elections, possible expansion of the state council of ministers and appointments to various boards and corporations, party sources said.

The closed-door meeting began at around 8:30am at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar and was attended by several senior leaders of the party and the Odisha government.

Top BJP Leaders Attend Closed-Door Meeting
Among those present at the meeting were Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda.

BJP MPs Sambit Patra and Pratap Sarangi also attended the meeting along with the party’s Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, co-in-charge Lata Usendi and other senior leaders.

Focus On Panchayat Polls, Cabinet Expansion
According to party sources, the BJP national president held discussions on the party’s roadmap for next year’s rural polls in Odisha, which are being viewed as politically significant after the BJP formed the government in the state.

Sources said discussions were also held on the possible expansion of the Odisha council of ministers and appointments of party leaders to various boards and corporations.

Ideology Discussed
After the meeting, BJP MP Pratap Sarangi said the core committee also deliberated on maintaining the BJP’s ideological commitment while being in power in Odisha.

“The core committee also discussed the BJP’s ideology and how to maintain it when the party is in power in the state,” Sarangi said.

Nitin Nabin’s Odisha Visit Seen As Politically Significant
Manmohan Samal said Nitin Nabin’s first Odisha visit after becoming BJP national president is being viewed as politically important and is expected to energise grassroots workers and party leaders.

Nabin, who arrived in Odisha on Sunday night, is also scheduled to participate in a series of organisational meetings, training programmes and strategic discussions in Bhubaneswar and Puri.

Also Read: BJP President Nitin Nabin Arrives In Odisha, To Visit Puri Jagannath Temple Today

Visit To Jagannath Temple, Meetings With Ministers Planned
During the day, Nabin is also scheduled to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

He is expected to partake of the sacred ‘Mahaprasad’ at the residence of Puri MP Sambit Patra.

After returning to Bhubaneswar, the BJP national president will meet state office bearers and presidents of frontal organisations at 4 pm. He is also scheduled to chair a separate meeting with members of the Odisha council of ministers.

Party sources said Nabin is expected to return to Delhi later in the evening.