Despite facing what he described as unprecedented irregularities, money power, and vote rigging, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das declared that the people of Nuapada have positioned the Congress as the only viable alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent by-election.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan on Monday, Das highlighted that over 40,000 voters supported the party’s candidate, pushing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to third place and raising questions about its relevance.
Das pointed out that the Congress has now become the primary challenger to the BJP on key issues, including matters in the state assembly, women’s atrocities, and no-confidence motions. He criticised the involvement of Odisha and Chhattisgarh Chief Ministers in campaigning in Nuapada, urging them to instead collaborate on resolving the long-standing Mahanadi river dispute. “The two CMs came to Nuapada and split the vote; now, with a triple-engine government in place, they should sit together and solve the Mahanadi issue within one or two months,” he said.
The PCC chief expressed deep concern over the scale of alleged malpractices in the election, claiming it was unlike anything seen before. “We raised concerns about vote theft, but they demonstrated outright vote looting,” Das alleged, citing 41 booths where voter turnout exceeded 90 per cent—a rare occurrence. He questioned the winning candidate’s gesture of touching the feet of Himanshu Lal, a police officer known for his proximity to the ruling party, suggesting it indicated misuse of police force to secure victory. “Why did the winner seek blessings from Himanshu Lal? Did he pave the way for the win? This raises serious questions about democracy,” Das remarked.
He accused the BJP of not holding meetings in any panchayat, avoiding direct engagement with voters, and relying instead on government machinery misuse, EVM tampering, high-profile campaigns, and unethical spending of crores. “A political party didn’t campaign in panchayats, their candidate didn’t visit or discuss issues, yet they won. Is this a real victory?” Das asked rhetorically. In contrast, he emphasised that Congress conducted a clean, democratic campaign, visiting every panchayat, discussing development plans, and earning genuine support without financial inducements. “Our meetings drew 2,000-3,000 people who waited 6-7 hours. We fought a historic election respecting democracy,” he added.
Das noted that during the election, the Southern Range IG was removed, and Northern Range IG Himanshu Lal—a “known government sycophant”—was given charge of election management. He alleged this facilitated rigging, especially after low turnout at the Chief Minister’s rallies prompted a “vote looting plan.” The PCC chief accepted the BJP’s victory but rejected the methods, criticising the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) “one-sided” actions. Despite multiple complaints with evidence about Model Code of Conduct violations, no action was taken, he claimed. “Such events are unprecedented in India’s electoral history. The Chief Electoral Officer must answer, and we will organise programs to expose these manipulations for democracy’s sake,” Das vowed.
Responding to questions at the presser, Das acknowledged internal saboteurs—”Vibhishans”—in all parties, including Congress, and promised strict action against those who undermined the campaign. He described the result as an achievement, not a disappointment, as it elevated Congress to the main opposition after 25 years, with candidate Ghasiram Majhi securing second place and over 40,000 votes. Majhi, Das said, was the only “clean and untainted” candidate, unlike others facing corruption allegations.
Das expressed gratitude to Nuapada residents for recognising Congress as the BJP’s chief rival, congratulated the winner while hoping for public service, and reiterated the party’s commitment to transparency. “As PCC chief, it’s my duty to reveal the facts to the people,” he concluded.
