Rahul Gandhi to visit Odisha in November-December; Congress plans statewide campaign
By Dr Gourang Rout
Bhubaneswar, Aug.31 : Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Odisha in November and December as part of an extensive outreach programme, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Bhakta Das announced on Saturday August 30.
The visit will feature roadshows, padyatras, and large public rallies across several districts, with the Congress highlighting issues such as alleged vote rigging, persistent poverty, and women’s safety.
“The exact dates are yet to be finalised, but Rahul Gandhi will definitely visit Odisha during this period. A major event is being planned, and he will attend it. Vote theft will be the central issue, alongside women’s safety, where the government has failed despite global criticism. Roadshows, meetings, and padyatras will also be part of the programme,” Das said.
According to party sources, the campaign is designed to galvanise grassroots workers and spotlight what the Congress terms as Odisha’s overlooked socio-economic concerns. Leaders believe Gandhi’s presence will help amplify their message and forge a stronger connect with voters ahead of upcoming political battles.
Out of power in Odisha since 2000, the Congress has been making desperate attempts to regain lost ground. However, the central leadership’s lack of consistent focus on the state’s political affairs has left the Odisha unit weakened. Last-minute efforts ahead of elections have repeatedly failed to deliver results. In the 2024 Assembly polls, the party managed to secure only 14 of the 147 seats, along with just one of the state’s 21 Lok Sabha constituencies.
The appointment of veteran leader Bhakta Charan Das as Pradesh Congress Committee president has, however, injected fresh momentum into the party. Under his leadership, the Congress appears more organised and is mounting stronger challenges to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Its legislators have been particularly vocal on issues of corruption and the alleged decline in law and order across the state.
