Bhubaneswar, Dec 16 (PTI) The opposition BJD in Odisha on Monday announced that its organisational elections would be held next month.

The announcement was made by former minister Atanu S Nayak, the convenor of the BJD's committee for membership.

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"BJD president Naveen Patnaik has instructed to hold the organisational elections in January," Nayak told reporters.

Stating that the membership drive has been going smoothly, he said the party is likely to meet its target by December 21.

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The BJD has set a target to enrol 1 crore members.

Nayak said that after the drive is completed, BJD's coordination committee chairperson Debi Prasad Mishra will verify the list of members.

"Mishra will submit a report to the party president. After that, the final list of members will be released. The membership drive can continue after the organisational elections also," he said, adding that ward committees have been formed in many places.

Patnaik continues to remain the president of the party since its formation on December 26, 1997.

The ruling BJP is also preparing to elect its new state president in January.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)