Bhubaneswar: All India Congress Committee (AICC) announcement of the new Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) team on May 17, 2025: The AICC appointed 30 office bearers for the Odisha unit. The new team was announced nearly three months after Bhakta Charan Das took charge as the state party chief. The team comprises seven vice-presidents, ten general secretaries, twelve secretaries, and a treasurer.
- Key appointments include:
- Vice-Presidents: Taraprasad Bahinipati, Ramesh Jena, C.S. Raazen Ekka, Santosh Singh Saluja, Debasis Patnaik, Lalatendu Mohapatra, and Sasmita Behera.
- General Secretaries: Ashok Das, Appal Swamy Kadraka, Prafulla Pradhan, Mangu Khilla, Pabitra Saunta, Nilamadhab Hikaka, Subarna Nayak, Syed Yashir Nawaz, Bijaynanda Chaulia, and Madhusmita Sethy.
- Treasurer: Siddharth Swarup Dash.
- Chairman of the Social Media Department: Satyajeet Gomang.
- Co-Chairman of the Social Media Department: Santosh Pradhan.
Representation: The new team appears to show a strategic focus on key demographics within Odisha.
- Tribal Leaders: The appointment of Appal Swamy Kadraka, Mangu Khilla, Pabitra Saunta, and Nilamadhab Hikaka to significant roles is notable. This could be seen as an attempt to consolidate support among the tribal population, which constitutes a significant portion (approximately 22%) of Odisha’s population. This move is particularly relevant in the context of the BJP’s appointment of a tribal leader as Chief Minister and the Congress’s own earlier decision to appoint a tribal MLA as its CLP leader.
- Minority Communities: The inclusion of Syed Yashir Nawaz (Muslim community) and C.S. Raazen Ekka (Christians and western Odisha region) indicates an effort to provide representation to minority communities.
- Gender Representation: The new 30-member team has only two women leaders: Sasmita Behera and Madhusmita Sethy. This limited representation has drawn criticism, especially considering the emphasis on women’s empowerment by both the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP.
- Generational Shift: The absence of several senior leaders, including Mohammed Moquim, and the lack of mention of former state presidents and former union ministers, suggests a possible generational shift or strategic realignment within the party’s state leadership.
- Party Restructuring: The AICC’s decision to dissolve all organizational committees of the OPCC after the Lok Sabha and Odisha assembly polls last year, followed by this new team announcement, indicates a significant restructuring effort. This restructuring is likely aimed at revitalizing the party and improving its performance in future elections.
- Future Outlook: While this announcement marks a substantial restructuring, there are indications that further announcements and appointments are expected, suggesting the potential for more changes in the composition of the state unit.
The announcement of the new OPCC team reflects the Congress party’s attempt to reorganize its Odisha unit. The focus on tribal representation, minority inclusion, and a possible generational shift are key aspects of this restructuring. However, the limited representation of women in the new team has drawn some criticism. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether these changes can revitalize the Congress party in Odisha and improve its electoral prospects.