Kharge, Rahul & Priyanka To Visit Odisha In January Next Year, Says OPCC President

Bhubaneswar: In order to increase its tally in General Elections in Odisha next year, several senior Central leaders of Congress are likely to visit the state in January, 2024.

Speaking to media in Bhubaneswar on his return from New Delhi on Friday, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Sarat Patnaik said he had taken up the party matters in the meeting with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Expressing his optimism that the Congress will fare better in 2024 compared to 2019 elections, Patnaik said the people of the state are aware of the secret understanding between BJD and BJP. “Both Central and state governments have been taking the people for a ride. Both parties in power have been announcing welfare schemes in dozens. But the common man continues to suffer,” he said.

The Congress leader alleged that BJD and BJP were hands in glove and were working in tandem only to remain in power. “Their only aim is to win elections by any means. They do not work for the welfare and development of Odisha people,” he said.

He further said the Congress workers and leaders at grassroots level have been actively engaged in mobilising the support of the voters in the campaign against the BJD government at booth level. “Our next round of the campaign will run at block level. The AICC president and Rahul Gandhi will visit the state to further boost the morale of the party workers,” he added.

Meanwhile, sources said Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra 2.0 may include Odisha. He may cover several districts of the state during his Yatra before the elections. The Congress leaders from the state took up the matter with Rahul during a meeting with him in New Delhi on December 20, the sources said.