In a fiery post-poll brief presser at Bhubaneswar airport upon returning from the Nuapada by-election fray, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das didn’t mince words.
Labelling the BJP’s victory a “mockery of democracy” rather than a true electoral mandate, Das accused the ruling party of unleashing an unprecedented blitz of money, muscle, and misuse of state machinery to clinch the seat. He also issued a stern warning to “Vibhishans”—traitors within his own ranks—who he claims sabotaged the Congress campaign through self-destructive antics.
“Vibhishans exist in every party, including ours,” Das declared, vowing zero tolerance for those who “inflict self-harm” on the organisation. “Some in Congress have acted like suicidal traitors, damaging the party. We won’t spare them.” He revealed that anti-party activities, including a flood of misinformation targeting him and the Congress during the campaign, would face internal reckoning.
Despite the loss, Das expressed unbridled satisfaction with Congress’s performance, securing over 40,000 votes against a formidable opponent: the son of a deceased BJD MLA fielded by the ruling coalition. “We’re content with our tally,” he said. “Against full governmental misuse—unprecedented cash splurges, every minister and MLA deployed, and even the former chief minister holding back-to-back rallies with all tricks up their sleeve—we still crossed 40,000. This is a historic by-poll achievement for Congress in Odisha.”
Das credited the surge to meticulous grassroots mobilisation. The party announced its candidate a month in advance and organised small-scale election meetings in every panchayat, alongside zone-level gatherings attended by 500 to 3,000 people voluntarily. “No money lured them; it was pure public fervour,” he emphasised. “Our rallies were a testament to genuine support—unlike BJP’s fear-driven panic.”
The BJP, Das alleged, was rattled by this organic wave. Chief Minister’s rallies drew meagre crowds, with one infamous incident where “17 cows died after consuming substandard food meant for attendees,” demoralising party workers. In response, the saffron brigade pivoted aggressively: deploying “minister after minister and MLA after MLA,” two chief ministers orchestrated “stormy” roadshows, and cultural extravaganzas like yatras, orchestras, and street performances clogged entire routes for days. “They spent crores daily—perhaps even 100 crores for one by-election,” Das fumed. “If power’s abuse, rule-breaking, and endless cash can ‘win’ elections, what’s the point of BJP’s so-called democratic fight?”
Worse, Das claimed, the entire poll was “police-managed.” He pointed to victorious BJP candidate Jay Dholakia’s post-win prostration at the feet of Inspector General Himanshu Lal as “proof of the force’s biased role.” “Himanshu Lal blessed him, and Jay received his victory,” Das quipped, implying a nexus that tilted the scales.
The OPCC chief didn’t spare the BJD either, accusing them of mirroring the BJP’s “undemocratic” playbook. “Where money failed, BJP resorted to vote theft through various means,” he charged. Congress, in contrast, ran a “professional, people-centric” campaign—building rapport without negligence but admitting they couldn’t fully counter the “unethical” opposition blitz.
Ultimately, Das framed the by-election not as a defeat but a booster shot. “This has fortified our hopes and morale. We’ve learned how to counter the BJP’s tactics. On behalf of selfless Nuapada residents, I’m grateful—their support is Congress’s true victory.” As Odisha gears up for bigger battles, Das’s words signal a resurgent opposition unwilling to back down from the “dance of democracy’s desecration.”
