The recent by-election in Nuapada has turned into a major setback for the Congress party in Odisha, with candidate Ghasiram Majhi failing to capitalise on his personal vote bank despite running under the party’s banner.
Although the Congress doubled its vote count from the previous election, Majhi could not even match the votes he secured as an independent just 18 months ago, raising questions about the party’s strategy and leadership.
In the 2014 elections, Majhi, as a Congress candidate, garnered 39,654 votes. By 2019, after being denied a ticket, he contested independently and secured 45,317 votes, finishing second. In the 2024 general elections, then-PCC President Sarat Pattanayak contested from Nuapada and managed only around 15,000 votes. Later that year, Majhi again ran as an independent, polling an impressive 50,941 votes but losing to BJD’s Rajendra Dholakia, who won with 61,822 votes—a margin of 10,881.
Political analysts had speculated that if Majhi had been fielded by Congress in 2024, combining the party’s 15,501 votes with his personal tally could have pushed him over 66,000 votes, potentially securing a victory. Banking on this equation, the Congress leadership, under current PCC President Bhakta Charan Das, nominated Majhi for the recent by-election. Das, who hails from the Kalahandi parliamentary constituency that includes Nuapada, personally campaigned alongside Majhi, touting him as a “son of the soil” and creating early buzz about a possible upset win.
Das, a multiple-time MP from Kalahandi and former Union Minister, was seen leveraging his personal organisation and vote base in the region. The strategy aimed to blend Das’s influence, the Congress’s organisational strength, and Majhi’s local popularity to alter the electoral dynamics. Initial discussions suggested Majhi was unstoppable this time.
However, the results proved disastrous. Majhi not only failed to bring his previous independent votes into the Congress fold but also saw a significant dip in support. The defeat has ignited widespread discontent within the party, with fingers pointing squarely at Das’s handling of the campaign and overall management. Political circles believe this loss will haunt Das, making his position as PCC President precarious.
Critics argue that Das confined the by-election battle to his own leadership and decisions, hoping to claim credit for a win. But with everything backfiring, the blame game has intensified. Even Majhi has publicly accused the party of inadequate financial support, claiming it contributed to his defeat. Senior leaders within Congress are now questioning Das’s stewardship, and this chorus is expected to grow louder, potentially turning his path ahead into a thorny one.
As the Congress grapples with this embarrassment in a seat once considered winnable, the fallout could reshape internal dynamics and challenge Das’s hold on the party’s state unit.
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