In a significant organisational reshuffle, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday appointed veteran leader Bhakta Charan Das as the new president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
Bhubaneswar: In a significant organisational reshuffle, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday appointed veteran leader Bhakta Charan Das as the new president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
Das replaces Sarat Pattanayak, who had held the position for several years. His appointment signals the party’s renewed effort to strengthen its leadership in Odisha, where the Congress has been struggling since 2000 to reclaim its lost political ground. The state’s politics has been dominated by the Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bhakta Charan Das is no stranger to Odisha’s political landscape. A veteran politician, he has represented the Kalahandi constituency in Parliament multiple times and has been a strong advocate for tribal communities, farmers, and marginalised groups. Between 2009 and 2014, he played a crucial role in securing significant development projects and funding for the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts, earning him a reputation as a leader with deep grassroots connections.
Das had previously served as the head of the Congress party’s campaign committee in Odisha. However, after the party’s underwhelming performance in the 2024 elections, he took moral responsibility and resigned from the position on June 11, 2024. Despite this setback, his appointment as OPCC president indicates the party’s continued faith in his leadership and experience.
Das takes charge at a challenging time for the Congress in Odisha. The party has been grappling with internal divisions and a declining support base. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress managed to win only one of the state’s 21 parliamentary seats. Similarly, in the Odisha Assembly elections, it secured just 14 out of 147 seats, highlighting the uphill battle it faces against the well-entrenched BJD and the rising BJP.
Kharge’s decision to appoint Das is seen as part of a broader strategy to revive the party in the state. His experience and organisational skills will be crucial as the Congress looks to reposition itself as a credible alternative in Odisha’s evolving political landscape.
With assembly and parliamentary elections now behind, Das’s primary challenge will be to rebuild the party’s grassroots network, resolve internal rifts, and craft a strong political narrative to counter the dominance of the BJD and BJP in the state. His leadership will be closely watched as the Congress gears up for the political battles ahead.
