The BJP Legislature Party will soon elect its new leader following the elevation of K V Sighdeo to the post of the party's state president.
"I have already intimated the central leadership about my decision to quit the post of BJPLP leader. A new legislature party leader will be announced soon," Singhdeo told reporters outside the Assembly today.
Singhdeo was heading the six-member BJPLP since 2009 and had expressed his desire to quit the post last year.
Party sources said Sambalpur MLA Jayram Mishra and Baliguda MLA Karendra Majhi were in the race for the BJPLP leader's post.
While Mishra appears to be ahead in the race by dint of being a senior member of the Sangh Parivar and a former minister, Majhi has distinction of being a strong follower of the slain VHP leader Swami Laxamananda Saraswati besides being the secretary of the BJPLP.
Singhdeo said the new legislature party leader will be selected unanimously without any contest.
He said, he was willing to take back all party leaders suspended during the 2009 elections.
Singhdeo, however, reserved comments on Bonai MLA Bhimsen Choudury, who had been suspended from the BJP for defying party whip during the 2010 Rajya Sabha elections.
