Bhubaneswar, Apr 17 (UNI) Former Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Thursday filed his nomination for the post of president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Flanked by his supporters, including senior party leaders, Patnaik submitted his nomination papers for the ninth consecutive term as party president.

According to BJD sources, Patnaik was the only candidate to file nomination papers for the president’s post. He submitted the papers before the party’s Returning Officer, Pratap Keshari Deb.

The party will announce the name of the president on April 19. It has already declared the names of party presidents for 18 out of the 30 districts in the state.

The BJD was founded on December 26, 1997, as a splinter group of the Janata Dal, following the demise of legendary leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik,

The regional party was established with the objective of championing the cause of Odisha, focusing on regional development, economic progress of the state, and fulfilling Biju Patnaik’s dream of a prosperous Odisha.

UNI DP KK