BHUBANESWAR: The Congress in Odisha on Tuesday ruled out any alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the upcoming rural and urban local body elections, seeking to end weeks of speculation over a possible political understanding between the two parties.
State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das said the party would contest the panchayat, zilla parishad and municipal polls independently, asserting that rebuilding the organisation at the grassroots level remains its immediate priority.
“There is no chance of an alliance with the BJD in the upcoming local elections. We will go alone and strengthen the party from the grassroots,” Das told reporters, underlining a clear shift towards an independent electoral strategy.
The clarification comes in the wake of internal dissent and mixed signals within the party that had fuelled uncertainty over its political roadmap in Odisha. Party leaders indicated that the announcement is aimed at consolidating cadre confidence and presenting a coherent strategy ahead of the rural polls.
However, Das stopped short of completely ruling out future alliances. He said any decision regarding a tie-up for the Odisha Assembly elections would be taken by the party’s central leadership. “The Congress functions under the direction of its high command. Any alliance for Assembly polls will depend on their approval,” he said, leaving room for a possible post-poll or pre-poll arrangement depending on the political situation.
The issue of a Congress-BJD alliance had gained traction earlier this month after Das hinted at the possibility of an understanding, triggering debate within political circles as well as unease among party workers.
Amid the controversy, senior Congress leader Amiya Pandav resigned from the party’s primary membership on April 23 and announced his retirement from active politics. Pandav publicly opposed any move towards an alliance, reflecting broader discomfort within sections of the state unit.
Political observers believe the Congress is attempting to revive its organisational base independently in Odisha while retaining flexibility for larger electoral contests. With local body elections approaching, the party’s focus appears to be on regaining lost ground before considering broader strategic alignments.