February 18th 2025.
Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, was buzzing with excitement as Bhakta Charan Das, the newly appointed state Congress president, arrived at the Biju Patnaik International Airport for the first time. He was greeted with a warm and enthusiastic welcome from party workers and supporters. Das had been appointed as the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief on February 11, and this was his first official visit to the state.
Amidst the cheers and chants, Das embarked on a 60-km Sankalp Padayatra from Bhubaneswar to Puri's famous Jagannath Temple. Accompanied by senior party leaders and supporters, he began the padayatra from the airport, and is expected to reach Puri on February 20. In a statement to the media, Das shared the purpose behind this padayatra, stating that it was a step towards bringing change within the Congress and the state of Odisha. He emphasized the need to restore the lost glory of the state.
Das also mentioned that he will not make any political statements until he has the opportunity to seek blessings from Lord Jagannath at the temple. Debashis Patnaik, the chairman of the Sankalp Padayatra Committee and a former MLA, expressed his confidence in the future of Congress in the state, citing the massive turnout at the airport as a positive sign.
The padayatra began its journey through the streets of Bhubaneswar, passing through several landmarks such as Shishu Bhavan, Rajmahal, Kalpana, and Ravi Talkies Square, before reaching Lingipur Square. After a lunch break at Lingipur, the march continued towards Pipili, where the participants would spend the night. The following day, they would proceed towards Teisipur, and after a brief lunch break, they would continue their journey towards Chandanpur, where they would spend the night before reaching Puri.
On February 20, the padayatra would resume from Chandanpur, stopping for lunch at Bata Mangala. In the afternoon, Das would finally visit the Jagannath Temple for darshan and seek blessings. After his return from the temple, he would address the media, sharing his experiences and thoughts.
Since his appointment as the OPCC president, Das has been working towards reuniting and strengthening the party's base in the state. He has extended an invitation to suspended or former party leaders to rejoin the Congress, and his efforts have yielded positive results. In fact, veteran Congress leader and former minister Suresh Kumar Routray has already rejoined the party.
It is no secret that the Congress has been out of power in Odisha since 2000. However, with 14 MLAs and one MP in the state, the party still holds a significant presence. With Das at the helm, the party is determined to regain its position and bring about positive change in the state. The Sankalp Padayatra is just the beginning of this journey towards a better future for Odisha.
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