Bhubaneswar: In a closely watched election at the Bhubaneswar Club, former Chief Secretary Shri Pradeep Kumar Jena secured the presidency, marking a significant victory over the two-time incumbent, Shri Asit Kumar Tripathy. The election, which concluded with a final count on Sunday, saw Jena win by a narrow margin of just 18 votes.
Shri Jena’s victory followed a campaign centered on a “vote for change” platform, contrasting with Shri Tripathy’s established leadership. The election drew from a membership of 2,321, including both individual and corporate members, and was conducted with a mix of e-voting and traditional ballot polling.
While Shri Jena’s win for the top post was a major highlight, the election results for other key positions showed a divided outcome. Shri Jena’s panel saw a win in the Secretary race, with retired IPS officer Shri Lalit Das defeating his rival by 76 votes.
However, the Vice Presidency went to Shri Pragati Mohanty from Tripathy’s panel, who won with a commanding lead of 60 votes. The Joint Secretary position was also secured by a member of Shri Tripathy’s panel, Shri Sambit Mohanty, with a 68-vote margin.
Pradeep Kumar Jena, a 1989-batch IAS officer, brings a distinguished career to his new role as club President. He previously served as the Chief Secretary of Odisha and is currently the Chairman of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission.
His public service career has included significant roles in rural development, disaster management, and infrastructure projects, earning him a reputation as an efficient and dynamic administrator.