Bhubaneswar: With a renewed sense of purpose and a clear roadmap for the future, the Congress party in Odisha has set its sights on the 2029 elections, declaring it will defeat both the BJD and the BJP. The party’s invigorated approach was on full display at a meeting held at Congress Bhavan on Sunday evening, where AICC General Secretary (Organization) K.C. Venugopal rallied party leaders and workers, urging them to emulate Rahul Gandhi’s “padayatra” and work tirelessly to strengthen the party from the ground up.
Shri Venugopal, addressing PCC workers, department heads, and observers, emphasized the need for a unified front. “No big leader, no small leader. All are Congress leaders. 2029 is ours,” he declared, praising the leadership of PCC President Shri Bhakta Charan Das for steering the party in the right direction. He highlighted that the party is now recognized by the people as the principal opposition in Odisha, a crucial step toward its goal.
The meeting focused on the “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan” (Organization Formation Campaign), with Shri Venugopal announcing that the selection of Presidents for all 35 organizational districts in Odisha will be finalized by September 30. He stressed that a similar training camp to the one held in Gujarat under Shri Rahul Gandhi’s guidance will also be organized for the Odisha Congress. To ensure accountability, the performance of the newly appointed district presidents will be reviewed every three months.
The party’s strategy for the coming months is multi-pronged and aimed at mass mobilization. In October, the Congress plans to reach every block in the state. This will be followed by a concerted effort in November and December to take the issue of “vote theft” to the grassroots level and to complete the formation of booth committees.
AICC Odisha in-charge Shri Ajay Kumar Lallu echoed Shri Venugopal’s optimism, stating that the Congress is on the rise in the state and that its current momentum, if maintained, will be unstoppable by 2029.
PCC President Shri Bhakta Charan Das called on party members to participate in a year-long march, beginning October 2, to build a strong organization. He assured them that their “tireless efforts” would not be in vain.
The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting, attended by senior leaders, MLAs, and MPs, also saw key discussions and proposals put forward by members including Mohammed Mukim, Shri Niranjan Patnaik, and Shri Saptagiri Ulaka, among others. Separately, a creative meeting was held with various leaders sharing their experiences and ideas for the party’s future. The events were coordinated by Odisha in-charge Shahnawaz Chaudhary.