BJD holds first coordination committee meeting after poll debacle

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], August 9 (ANI): Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held the first coordination committee meeting at Shanka Bhavan in Bhubaneswar after the poll debacle. Different state-level issues were discussed in the key meeting. Discussion was held on the restructuring of the party.
Speaking about the first coordination committee meeting held on Friday, BJD Vice President and Chairman Coordination Committee Debi Prasad Mishra said, "BJD President Naveen Patnaik formed the new Coordination Committee. Different State level issues have been discussed. We have more focused on the party organisation. BJD is always committed to the development of Odisha and its people, who have been supporting the party for a long time. But now we are in the opposition. The meeting discussed what are the ways to strengthen the party and move it forward. The recommendations will be discussed with President Naveen Patnaik for approval. The meeting also discussed the party's strategy and plan."
Meanwhile, after former Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Mahanta switched over to BJP from BJD, BJP MLA Ashok Mohanty said other BJD members will also join the BJP in the coming days and the party will welcome them all.
Notably, BJD MLA Goutam Buddha Das said Mamata Mahanta left the party because she was in touch with the BJP.
Mahanta joined the BJP on August 1, a day after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
After joining the BJP, Mamata Mohanta said that her only aim was the service and welfare of the common people.
Notably, in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the BJD faced a significant setback, failing to secure any of the 21 seats, while the BJP won 20 seats and Congress managed to win one seat. In the state assembly elections, the BJD won 51 out of 147 seats, while the BJP secured a majority by winning 78 seats.
The Biju Janata Dala, which has ruled Odisha since 1997, lost to the BJP, breaking the 24-year-old reign of Naveen Patnaik as the Chief Minister. (ANI)