Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has revoked all suspensions and expulsions of party leaders, newly appointed OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das stated Friday.
“Several Congress leaders in Odisha who were previously suspended or expelled for various reasons have now been reinstated,” Das said in a statement.
Along with reinstating members facing disciplinary actions, the party has extended an invitation to former leaders who previously left.
“Several leaders have parted ways with Congress in Odisha for different reasons. We sincerely urge them to return to the party fold. We will welcome back all those who believe in the ideology and principles of the Congress party,” said Das.
Party sources said Das is scheduled to return to Odisha February 18.
“As soon as the new president arrives at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here, he will lead a ‘Sankalpa Padyatra’ to the abode of Lord Jagannath in Puri,” a senior leader said, adding that a 17-member coordination committee has been formed to organise the event.
Das has appealed to all leaders and party workers to actively participate in the Padyatra and make it a success.
Das, 66, hailing from the tribal-dominated Kalahandi district, was appointed as the new OPCC chief seven months after the post remained vacant following Congress’s dismal performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.
While Das belongs to Dalit category, the party appointed Rama Chandra Kadam, a tribal as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
According to political analysts, the grand old party has strategically put a tribal and a Dalit as the party’s face in Odisha, which constitutes 23 per cent and 17 per cent of the state’s population, respectively.
The party has remained out of power for 25 years after Naveen Patnaik took the reins of the state in 2000.
Now that Patnaik’s BJD has lost the polls and the BJP emerged as the winner, Congress has been pushed to third position.
“As there is chaos in the BJD after the regional party lost power in the state and two of its MPs quitting the party, Congress could emerge as the potential alternative to BJP in Odisha if it strengthens its base,” a senior leader said.
Das has appealed to all leaders and party workers to actively participate in the Sankalp Padyatra and make the event a success.
PNN & Agencies
