Bhubaneswar, February 11: Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das has been appointed as the new President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). The announcement was made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, with the appointment becoming effective immediately.
In a notification issued by K.C. Venugopal, the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, it was said that Bhakta Charan Das would take on the role of OPCC President without delay. The notification stated, "Hon’ble Congress President has appointed Shri Bhakta Charan Das as the President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, with immediate effect."
Born on November 26, 1958, in Kalahandi district, Bhakta Charan Das has had a long-standing political career, having served as a Member of Parliament three times, representing the Kalahandi Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha. His political journey began in 1977 when he joined the Yuva Chhatra Sangharsh Bahini, the student wing of the JP movement. He became involved in fighting corruption and advocating for the rights of marginalized communities through this organization.
In 1989, at the age of 30, Das was chosen by the Janata Party to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Kalahandi, where he won by a significant margin. He was appointed as Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in the Union Ministry under Prime Minister V.P. Singh. Although his tenure lasted only five months, Das made a notable impact. When the V.P. Singh government fell, a new government led by Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar appointed him as the Minister of State for Railways. During this brief period, Das played a key role in surveying and approving new railway lines, introducing new trains, and modernizing railway stations with updated technologies and facilities.
Das has been a strong advocate for the rights of tribal communities, farmers, and marginalized groups. His advocacy in 2012–13 helped Odisha's farmers secure over Rs 500 crore from the National Crop Insurance Scheme. Between 2009 and 2014, he was instrumental in bringing several development projects to Kalahandi and Nuapada, securing funding for roads, irrigation, and railway projects for these districts.
