Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 (BNP): The Congress on Tuesday announced that it will contest the upcoming Panchayat elections in Odisha independently, ruling out any alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and putting an end to speculation over a possible electoral understanding.
Clarifying the party’s stand, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das said the Congress would fight the upcoming zilla parishad, panchayat, and municipal elections on its own strength.
Das said the decision was taken keeping in view the sentiments of grassroots workers and the party’s strategy to rebuild its independent political base across the state.
The move comes amid internal dissatisfaction within Congress ranks following discussions over a possible alliance with the BJD.
The BJD also dismissed the alliance buzz. Senior party leader Prasanna Acharya said no discussions had taken place with Congress regarding local body elections and asserted that the regional party would contest the polls independently with a strong organisational structure.
The Congress decision is being linked to the recent Rajya Sabha cross-voting episode, which strained ties between the two parties. Congress had supported BJD candidate Dr Datteswar Hota, but BJP-backed Independent candidate Dilip Ray emerged victorious after alleged cross-voting by three Congress MLAs and six BJD MLAs.
Political observers say the unexpected outcome significantly impacted opposition equations and pushed the Congress leadership to adopt a solo strategy for local body polls.
However, Bhakta Charan Das indicated that future political adjustments cannot be ruled out entirely, stating that any alliance for Assembly elections would depend on directives from the party high command.
The announcement signals Congress’s renewed attempt to strengthen its grassroots presence and re-establish itself as an independent political force in Odisha ahead of key elections.