Congress has become more active in Odisha since 2024, capitalizing on issues like women’s safety and several issues in recent months
OdishaPlus Bureau
In Odisha, the Indian National Congress (INC) has emerged as the main opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the 2024 state elections, primarily due to the significant decline of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which had previously dominated the state’s politics. Here’s a concise explanation of why Congress holds this position.
The BJD, led by Naveen Patnaik, ruled Odisha for 24 years until 2024, when the BJP won 78 seats in the 147-seat Odisha Legislative Assembly, ending the BJD’s dominance. The BJD was reduced to 51 seats, losing its position as the primary opposition. This shift allowed Congress, with 14 seats, to step into the opposition space.
Despite its weakened position since 2000, when the BJD took over, Congress has maintained a significant presence in Odisha. In the 2019 elections, it secured 9 seats with a 16.12% vote share, and in 2024, it increased to 14 seats. This consistent, albeit modest, performance positions Congress as a viable opposition compared to the diminished BJD.
The BJP capitalized on anti-incumbency against the BJD, focusing on issues like “Odia Asmita” (Odia pride) and criticisms of BJD’s governance, particularly targeting Naveen Patnaik’s associate VK Pandian. With BJD weakened, Congress became the default opposition, as it is a national party with a broader organizational base than smaller regional players.
BJD’s leadership issue and Naveen Patnaik not keeping well because of age, too, has given the Odisha Congress a big chance to grab the opposition space.
Congress has become more active in Odisha since 2024, capitalizing on issues like women’s safety and several issues in recent months – Dalit atrocity in Ganjam where two women were forced to crawl, and Gopalpur gang rape to mention a few – to challenge the BJP government. Earlier, the suspension of 12 out of 14 Congress MLAs for protests in the assembly highlights their aggressive opposition stance, further solidifying their role in state politics.
Furthermore, with Bhakta Charan Das recently assuming the role of OPCC president, the Congress party has experienced significant revitalization.
Other regional parties, such as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), exert minimal influence in Odisha, with AITC failing to secure any seats and JMM having a limited effect. Consequently, Congress stands as the principal non-BJP, non-BJD entity in the state.
In conclusion, Congress emerged as the primary opposition to the BJP in Odisha following the BJD’s electoral decline in 2024, bolstered by Congress’s longstanding presence and its recent proactive engagement in the state assembly, thereby occupying the void created by the BJD.
