BJP President Nitin Nabin's first Odisha visit: Key meetings, Puri temple trip on agenda
Synopsis
BJP President Nitin Nabin's maiden Odisha visit — his first since taking over from J.P. Nadda in January 2025 — is more than a courtesy call. With core committee meetings, a cadre training launch, and a Jagannath Temple darshan all packed into two days, it signals that the national leadership is actively tending to a state it only recently wrested from over two decades of BJD rule.
Key Takeaways
BJP President Nitin Nabin arrived in Bhubaneswar on 18 May 2025 for a two-day maiden visit to Odisha .
This is his first visit to the state since succeeding J.P.
Nadda as BJP president in January 2025 .
He was received by CM Mohan Charan Majhi , Deputy CMs Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida , and state BJP leadership.
The welcome was kept simple and modest in line with PM Modi's appeal regarding the global fuel situation.
Key engagements include the State Core Committee meeting , inauguration of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan-2026 , and meetings with the Odisha Council of Ministers .
Nabin and his family are scheduled to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri and receive Mahaprasad .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar late on Sunday, 18 May, kicking off a two-day maiden visit to Odisha — his first to the state since succeeding J.P. Nadda as party president in January 2025. The visit is centred on organisational consolidation, training initiatives, and political consultations with the BJP's state leadership.
Arrival and Welcome
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, State BJP President Manmohan Samal, and Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida received Nabin at the airport, along with senior leaders and party workers. Notably, the welcome was kept deliberately simple and modest — in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for restraint amid prevailing global fuel concerns. Nabin later proceeded to the state guest house in a special motorcade.
Day One Agenda: Core Committee and Training Programme
On Monday morning, Nabin is scheduled to chair the State Core Committee meeting at the BJP's state office in Bhubaneswar. He will then inaugurate the district-level Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan-2026 — a structured training drive for party workers — organised by the Bhubaneswar organisational district at the campus of Asian Institute of Physical Health University, near IIT Bhubaneswar in the Jatni area of Khordha district.
Puri Temple Visit and Family Darshan
Nabin, accompanied by his family, is scheduled to travel to Puri to offer prayers at the Jagannath Temple and partake in Mahaprasad, the sacred offering of the shrine. The visit carries both personal and symbolic significance — Puri's Jagannath Temple holds deep cultural resonance across Odisha's political landscape, and a new party president's first darshan is a closely watched gesture.
Afternoon Meetings with State Leaders and Ministers
After returning to Bhubaneswar, the BJP president will hold meetings with state office-bearers and various Morcha presidents, followed by a key sitting with members of the Odisha Council of Ministers. The discussions are expected to cover organisational priorities, upcoming political challenges, and the party's strategy in the state. Nabin will return to Delhi after concluding these engagements.
Significance of the Visit
This is Nabin's first state visit as BJP president, making it a significant moment for the party's Odisha unit. The BJP swept to power in Odisha in 2024, ending over two decades of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) dominance. Maintaining organisational momentum and cadre morale in a newly won state is a strategic priority for the national leadership. Party leaders and workers have expressed enthusiasm over the visit, viewing it as a signal of the Centre's continued focus on Odisha.
Point of View
Cadre training, ministerial huddle, and a temple visit that speaks to the state's cultural sensibility. What deserves scrutiny is whether the organisational meetings translate into structural party-building or remain ceremonial. The BJP won Odisha in 2024 on anti-incumbency against the BJD, not on deep grassroots presence; the Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan is an acknowledgment of that gap. A new president's first state visit sets the tone — whether Odisha gets sustained attention or becomes a check-the-box stop will matter more than the optics of a warm airport welcome.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nitin Nabin and when did he become BJP president?
Nitin Nabin is the current president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), having assumed charge in January 2025, succeeding J.P. Nadda. His Odisha visit on 18 May 2025 is his first to the state in his new capacity.
What is the purpose of Nitin Nabin's Odisha visit?
The two-day visit is focused on organisational meetings, cadre training, and political consultations. Key engagements include the State Core Committee meeting, inauguration of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan-2026, and a meeting with the Odisha Council of Ministers.
Why was Nabin's airport welcome kept simple?
The welcome was deliberately modest in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for restraint in light of the prevailing global fuel crisis. Senior leaders including the Chief Minister were present, but the reception was scaled back accordingly.
What is the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan-2026?
It is a district-level BJP cadre training programme being inaugurated by Nabin at the Asian Institute of Physical Health University campus near IIT Bhubaneswar in Khordha district. The initiative is organised by the Bhubaneswar organisational district of the party.
Why is Nabin visiting the Jagannath Temple in Puri?
Nabin and his family are scheduled to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri to offer prayers and receive Mahaprasad, the temple's sacred offering. The visit holds personal and symbolic significance, as a new BJP president's first darshan at the shrine is a closely watched gesture in Odisha's political culture.
