Bhubaneswar: The political landscape in Odisha is currently witnessing significant shifts, particularly within the Odisha Unit of Indian National Congress (INC), and this is causing political analysts to pay close attention.
The absence of veteran leaders like Narasingha Mishra, Niranjan Patnaik, Jayadev Jena, Panchanan Kanungo, and others, including figures associated with the “Young Turks” like Navajyoti Patnaik and Manas Choudhury, from OPCC list has raised eyebrows.
INC Headquarters insider say Navajyoti played a crucial role in bringing Bhakta as OPCC Chief and now he is left in lurch.
In fact Navajyoti is having wider influence in Coastal Odisha and his absence in the OPCC list is likely to weaken the party, insiders in PCC admit.
Manas was organizing the show with his resources and youth force, he has in his command. It was making huge impact, when Congress was in a moribund state in Odisha, admit young leaders .
These leaders have historically held significant influence within the Odisha Congress, and their apparent marginalization suggests a potential shift in the party’s power dynamics.
This absence could indicate a strategic move by the INC to promote newer, younger leadership, or it might reflect internal conflicts and disagreements within the party.
The exclusion of these veterans is likely to fuel discontent within the party ranks. These leaders have established bases of support, and their followers may feel alienated.
This internal strife could weaken the INC’s ability to effectively challenge the increasingly assertive Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha.
The BJP has been making significant inroads, posing a strong challenge to the INC’s traditional support base. BJP Slogan is “Congress Mukt Bharat” and in this context, the INC’s internal cohesion is crucial. Any signs of division could further erode its electoral prospects.
Now the veteran leaders’ future political moves are uncertain. They may choose to remain within the INC and work to regain their influence, or they could explore other options, potentially aligning with other parties.
The absence of these seasoned politicians, also removes a lot of institutional memory from the INC.
The INC will need to manage this internal dissent carefully to avoid further weakening its position in Odisha.
Odisha’s political landscape is characterized by the long-standing dominance of the BJD and it is also losing ground.
The BJP has been increasing its influence in the state, creating a more competitive political environment.
The INC faces the challenge of revitalizing its organization and regaining its lost ground.
It is important to keep a close watch on the developments within the INC in Odisha, as they could have significant implications for the state’s political future.