Snehangini Chhuria has been appointed the new president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) women’s wing, the Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD), effective immediately, according to a statement issued by the regional party on Thursday. Chhuria is a prominent Dalit leader and a former minister of Odisha.
“Smt. Snehangini Chhuria is hereby appointed as President, Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD) with immediate effect,” the statement issued by party supremo Naveen Patnaik read.
In addition to Chhuria’s appointment, BJD president Patnaik also appointed 15 leaders as senior general secretaries and general secretaries (women’s affairs) of the party.
Sumitra Jena, Rajashree Mallick, and Lekhasri Samantsinghar have been appointed as senior general secretaries for women affairs.
Sulochana Das, Sulata Deo, Barsha Singh Bariha, Sarmistha Sethi, Shreemayee Mishra, Lopamudra Buxipatra, Minati Behera, Kasturi Mohapatra, Padmini Dian, Dipali Das, Ranjita Sahu, and Gitanjali Bastia have been appointed as general secretaries (Women Affairs).
Patnaik also announced the names of the party’s district presidents of Dhenkanal, Koraput and Rayagada.
Former minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu was appointed the district president of Dhenkanal, ex-MP Jhina Hikaka was appointed the president of Koraput, and former minister Jagannath Saraka was named the president of Rayagada.
Former minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu was named the district president for Dhenkanal, while ex-MP Jhina Hikaka and former minister Jagannath Saraka were appointed to lead the Koraput and Rayagada districts, respectively.
Heartiest congratulations to Ex Minister Smt. Snehangini Chhuria on being appointed as the President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal.
I also congratulate all the newly elected members of the Women's Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/lWKMZ7Ae5p
— Manas Mangaraj (@manasrmangaraj) September 4, 2025
On the new appointment in the party, senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manas Mangaraj, taking to his X handle, wrote, “Heartiest congratulations to Ex Minister Smt. Snehangini Chhuria on being appointed as the President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal. I also congratulate all the newly elected members of the Women’s Affairs Committee.”
“Hearty congratulations to Smt Snehangini Chhuria of the @bjd_odisha on being appointed as the President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal by our Hon’ble Party President Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji (@Naveen_Odisha). Wishing her great success and unwavering strength in carrying out her new responsibilities,” wrote BJD MP Sasmit Patra in a post on X.
Hearty congratulations to Smt Snehangini Chhuria of the @bjd_odisha on being appointed as the President of Biju Mahila Janata Dal by our Hon’ble Party President Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji (@Naveen_Odisha). Wishing her great success and unwavering strength in carrying out her new… https://t.co/1dMgoSrCMJ
— ଡ଼ଃ ସସ୍ମିତ ପାତ୍ର I Dr. Sasmit Patra (@sasmitpatra) September 4, 2025
