Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Odisha on Friday (July 11) has come amid a renewed push to strengthen the Congress party’s organisation in the state.
This is Rahul’s first visit to Odisha after the 2024 election.
According to political analysts, the state unit is hoping that this trip would help the party reclaim its place as the main Opposition. The maiden BJP government is embroiled in controversies and facing criticism from various quarters while the main Opposition BJD has failed to actively play the role after its electoral decline in 2024. In such a scenario, there is a political vacuum in the state that Congress can fill, which was also evident during its recent proactive engagement in the state assembly.
The Congress, under the leadership of Bhakta Charan Das, has overhauled key departments, including its media wing, and also opened doors for leaders from other parties. It is also hopeful that many disgruntled BJD leaders may also switch sides after Rahul’s visit.
The senior Congress leader, who will be accompanied by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, will hold closed-door meetings with leaders of the party’s state unit after addressing the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ at Baramunda Ground on Friday at 1 pm.
Political Vacuum and Congress
Congress has been out of power for about two and half a decades. The party has often been in the news due to weak organisation or internal conflicts. However, the current political scenario in the state presents a significant opportunity for the grand old party. The BJP, which came to power in the state for the first time ending the BJD’s dominance, has failed to put up an impressive show in the last one year. While the Mohan Majhi government claims to have fulfilled half of the 21 promises made ahead of 2024 elections, it has also received a fair share of criticism.
On the other hand, the BJD, which ruled Odisha for 24 years, is grappling with internal strife and leadership issues. Its performance as the main Opposition in the Assembly also leaves a lot to be desired.
This political vacuum could be a golden opportunity for Congress, which increased its Assembly seats tally from 9 in 2019 to 14 in 2024, allowing it to step into the Opposition space.
Fewer Numbers, Stronger Opposition!
In the state Assembly, Congress has only 14 MLAs. Yet, in the past year, Congress has challenged the government more aggressively than the BJD. Be it in the assembly or on the streets, Congress’ voice has been louder. The suspension of 12 out of 14 MLAs for protests in the Assembly also highlights their aggressive Opposition stance, further solidifying their role in state politics.
The party has experienced significant revitalisation since Bhakta Charan Das assumed the role of OPCC president in February. It raised the issue of women’s safety through a massive rally in Bhubaneswar and has since sharpened its fight against the BJP, denouncing the government over the recent gangrape cases and atrocities against the Dalits in the state.
The party appears more organised and the grassroots organisations seem to have aligned with this momentum.
Thus, Rahul Gandhi’s Odisha visit could serve as a booster dose for Congress workers and leaders.
The Hand Will Rise… Rahul to Deliver the Master Plan
From women’s safety to Saradhabali stampede tragedy, the Congress has been directly targeting the BJP government with BJD relegated to playing a supporting role.
The shift in the BJD’s stance in the Waqf Amendment Bill voting has created deep fissures in the party, while Congress appears strong and united.
With student’s’ union elections on the horizon, Rahul could energise the student wing of the party, NSUI. His trip may also help to galvanise the cadres and infuse a sense of responsibility among leaders ahead of the Panchayat polls. Additionally, some leaders who left for other parties might consider returning to the Hand fold.
In the past, the Congress high command gave little importance to Odisha as the party saw a sharp fall in its vote share and number of seats in successive elections since 2004 highlighting its decline. The national leadership now seems keen to strengthen its grip over the state, which it ruled for over 50 years.
The Panchayat elections will be a litmus test for the party, which will be looking for a roadmap from Delhi.