Tapan Kumar Nayak Elected KDUJ President, Lohit Mahapatra General Secretary;

New executive body formed for two-year term; journalists stress unity, professional ethics and organisational strengthening.

DILLIP KUMAR PATTNAIK

KHORDHA, OCTOBER 11:- The Khordha District Journalists’ Union (KDUJ) has elected a new executive body for a two-year term, with Tapan Kumar Nayak as president and Lohit Narayan Mahapatra as general secretary. The new leadership was elected at the union’s general body meeting held at the Khordha District Journalists’ Bhawan here on Sunday.
The meeting, held under the direction of the Odisha Union of Journalists (OUJ), the state-level organisation of journalists, focused on strengthening the union, protecting the professional interests of journalists and upholding the fundamental principles of independent and impartial journalism.

The proceedings were presided over by Tapan Nayak, while Lohit Narayan Mahapatra welcomed the members and dignitaries. Addressing the gathering, the president called upon journalists to maintain impartiality, truthfulness and professional integrity in their work. He stressed the need to preserve the dignity of the profession while ensuring unity, discipline and collective responsibility within the organisation.
Prasanna Kumar Paikaray, state office secretary of the OUJ, conducted the election proceedings.
During the meeting, members deliberated on various organisational matters, shared their professional experiences and raised issues concerning the functioning of the union. The need to strengthen its activities at the district and block levels was emphasised. Members also called for the construction of a permanent building for the union to provide a dedicated space for its organisational activities.
As part of the newly constituted team, Prasanna Kumar Paikaray was nominated chief adviser, while Sanat Kumar Pattnaik, Rabi Swain, Syed Ansar Ali and Dilip Hota were appointed advisers. Narayan Mohanty and Srikant Pradhan were elected vice-presidents, and Sandeep Barman was chosen as treasurer.
Subhalaxmi Samantara and Mohammed Fazlur Rahman were nominated media coordinators.
To expand the union’s organisational network and strengthen its presence at the grassroots level, Swagatika Pahadsingh was appointed secretary for Tangi block, Ashok Patnaik for Jatni block, Chandan Kumar Sundaray for Begunia block, Basudev Behera for Bolagarh block and Jitendra Bhanja for Khordha block.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of financial transparency, organisational discipline and collective participation in addressing the concerns of journalists. Members expressed their resolve to work together to protect journalists’ professional interests and promote ethical, independent and impartial reporting.
Following the election, the newly elected office-bearers were felicitated with traditional uttariyas and bouquets. More than 50 members of the union attended the meeting, marking their participation in the formation of the new leadership and the organisation’s future course of action.