With the guessing game continuing around the new Odisha chief minister, BJP has called in several of its MPs and MLAs for separate meetings in Delhi. The saffron party has won 78 out the 147 seats in the recent state assembly polls, ousting the government led by five-time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The MLAs and MPs will meet Amit Shah and BJP National President J.P. Nadda on Saturday to discuss the possible face of the new government in Odisha. The oath-taking ceremony, which is scheduled for June 10, is expected to see attendance of more than 30,000 people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah and BJP CMs from other states are expected to be present at the Janata Maidan ceremony.
With the BJP cashing in on the Odia asmita (pride) during its election campaign in an appararent dig at "outsider" V.K. Pandyan, Modi has hinted that the new CM will be a native who speaks Odia.
With the BJP bringing in freshers as chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan following the December assembly polls, many feel that any of the 78 MLAs or even some of the MPs could lead the new BJP government in the state.
State party chief Manmohan Samal who is already in the capital said the BJP's central parliamentary board will finalise a name, which is likely to be announced by two central observer next week.