In a closely fought election for the prestigious Bhubaneswar Club, former Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena has emerged victorious as the new President for the 2025-2027 term. Jena defeated another former Chief Secretary, Asit Tripathy, by a narrow margin of 18 votes, marking a significant shift in the club’s leadership.
The election, held for the first time over two days, featured e-voting on Saturday and ballot voting on Sunday. With a total of 2,321 eligible voters—including 1,922 individual members and 399 corporate members—the process saw high participation. Ballot voting took place from 11 AM to 5 PM on Sunday across five booths at the club premises, with results announced after 6 PM.
Jena, contesting for the first time, campaigned under the slogan “Vote for Change.” His win comes amid indirect support from former Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik, who criticized Tripathy for allegedly treating the club as personal property. Tripathy, who had previously served as President twice, ran on the platform “Development is a Journey” in his bid for a third term.
The contest highlighted divisions within Odisha’s administrative circles, where both retired IAS officers continue to wield influence over serving IAS and IPS personnel. The Bhubaneswar Club, established in 1949, is regarded as a symbol of prestige and power in political and bureaucratic spheres, making this election a topic of widespread discussion.
In other key positions:
- Vice President: Pragati Mohanty won by 60 votes. (From Tripathy’s panel: Pragati Kumar Mohanty; From Jena’s panel: Dr. P.V. Mohan)
- Secretary: Lalit Das secured victory by 76 votes. (From Tripathy’s panel: Tutul Kishor Das; From Jena’s panel: Lalit Das)
- Joint Secretary: Sambit Mohanty triumphed by 68 votes. (From Tripathy’s panel: Sambit Mohanty; From Jena’s panel: Prashant Nath)
Both panels fielded six candidates each for the executive committee members, underscoring the organized and competitive nature of the polls.
This leadership change is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the club, which serves as a hub for Odisha’s elite. Jena’s team has pledged to focus on modernization and inclusivity, while addressing long-standing member concerns.
