In an unexpected political twist, the Congress party is showing signs of life in Odisha after years of irrelevance. Once reduced to a mere spectator, the grand old party is now actively positioning itself as the primary opposition in the state. While this may seem like bad news for the ruling BJP at the Centre, the reality is quite the opposite—if Congress replaces the regional party as the main opposition, it might just be the best thing to happen to the saffron brigade in Odisha.
For over two decades, Odisha has been firmly under the grip of Naveen Patnaik and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). And what kept him in power for so long? A weak and ineffective Congress opposition. If history repeats itself and Congress regains the opposition tag, it could create a political scenario where BJP has a clear path to dominance.
The reason is simple: Congress has consistently failed to pose a real threat to the BJP in Odisha. The party’s dwindling voter base, lack of strong regional leadership, and internal factionalism have made it a weak competitor. On the other hand, BJP has been steadily growing in the state, emerging as a formidable alternative to BJD. If the fight becomes a direct Congress vs. BJP battle, the latter is likely to have the upper hand.
Odisha’s political landscape is evolving, and Congress’ sudden resurgence may not be the setback it appears to be for the BJP. In fact, it could be a strategic advantage. With a historically underwhelming Congress in the opposition, BJP might just find it easier to expand its footprint in the state, potentially turning the next election into a battle of national ideologies rather than a fight for regional supremacy.