In a significant leadership change within the Indian National Congress in Odisha, senior party leader Bhakta Charan Das, has been appointed as the new President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
According to a statement released today by the All India Congress Committee, Congress party President Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Das as the chief of OPCC with immediate effect.
Das’s appointment signals a strategic move by the Congress to possibly strengthen its position in Odisha ahead of future elections. Sagar Das, his son, is currently the MLA for Bhabanipatna Constituency. The post of president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee fell vacant after the resignation of Sarat Pattanayak.
Bhakta Charan Das has served as an MLA in the Odisha Assembly once and as a Lok Sabha MP three times. Das was a member of the Indian Parliament and represented the Kalahandi constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha.
In the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Das consistently brought attention to the severe conditions faced by millions in his district, ensuring that the Kalahandi issues were frequently discussed in the Assembly and garnering national interest in the region’s struggles.
Das was selected by the Janata Party to run for the 1989 Lok Sabha election from the Kalahandi constituency, where he won decisively. He was then appointed Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in the Union Ministry under Prime Minister V.P. Singh. Although his tenure lasted only five months, he made a significant impact.
Following the fall of the V.P. Singh government, a new administration was established under Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, and Das was named Minister of State for Railways. During this short time, he accomplished notable advancements, including surveying and approving new railway lines with the Planning Commission, their integration into the Union Railway Budget, the launch of new train services on various routes, and the modernization of railway stations with enhanced technologies and facilities.
Throughout his career, Das remained a steadfast advocate for the rights of tribal communities, farmers, and other marginalized groups. His efforts in 2012-13 led to Odisha farmers receiving over Rs 500 crore from the National Crop Insurance Scheme. From 2009 to 2014, he played a key role in securing numerous road, irrigation, and railway projects for the Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.
