BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD on Sunday restructured its women wing and appointed Minati Behera as the president of Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD) in place of former minister Pramila Mallik. Behera’s appointment came hours after she resigned as state commissioner for persons with disabilities, Odisha , a statutory position.“I want to thank my leader and chief minister Naveen Patnaik for giving me the crucial responsibility. I will work to further strengthen our party so that BJD will assume power again in 2019. The BMJD cadres will work to popularize various schemes run by the state government for welfare of women in Odisha,” said Behera after her recent political appointment.Lopamudra Baxipatra, who resigned as state commission for women (SCW) chairperson, has also been appointed as working president of BMJD. After her resignation as SCW chairperson, Baxipatra said she would devote more time for party organization.BJD insiders said both Minati and Lopamudra are likely to get party tickets either for parliamentary or assembly polls in 2019.Mallik, who headed for the BMJD since 2002, has been appointed as vice president of BJD and also given the responsibility of advisor of BMJD. Senior leaders Jyoti Panigrahi and Kasturi Mohapatra were appointed as co-advisors of BMJD.Among others, Shreemayee Mishra, Gitarani Bastia and Sulochana Das have also been appointed as working presidents of party’s women wing while Sulata Deo and Elina Dash have been made general secretary of BMJD respectively.Informing about the restructure, party vice president Debi Mishra said the state committee and district committees of the BMJD will remain as it is.According to BJD insiders, the BMJD would take up several political activities against the NDA government at the Centre ahead of the elections.

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