Congress ‘real’ opposition party in Odisha, not BJD, claims OPCC president

The Odisha Congress on Monday asserted that it is the “real” opposition party in the state, claiming that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) no longer holds that position.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das made the statement during a press conference in Bhubaneswar, citing the party’s performance in the recently concluded Nuapada Assembly bypoll.

“We lost the Nuapada bypoll due to ‘vote loot’ by the ruling BJP, but we clearly emerged as the main rival. Our candidate Ghasiram Majhi secured second place while the BJD slipped to third,” Das said.

He argued that the bypoll results indicate a shifting political landscape in Odisha, with the Congress strengthening its position against the BJP and the BJD losing ground.