Odisha Congress to Temporarily Halt Year-Long Padayatra for Nuapada Bypoll

Bhubaneswar, Oct 1 : The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has decided to temporarily suspend its ambitious year-long Padayatra in view of the upcoming by-election to the Nuapada Assembly seat.

OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das announced that the first phase of the Padayatra will begin from Motu in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district on October 2 and will continue for only two days. The second phase, he said, will resume after the Nuapada by-election and continue uninterrupted for a year.

Das alleged that the state government has failed to safeguard Odisha’s borders, and the Padayatra aims to create awareness among the people on the issue. As part of the programme, Congress leaders and workers plan to cover 15 to 20 km daily, targeting all 314 blocks of the state.

Highlighting the revised schedule, the OPCC chief said the adjustment was necessary as the Nuapada by-election coincides with the Bihar Assembly elections.