TNI Bureau: The Congress tried to gherao the BJP state office in Bhubaneswar under the leadership of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, marking a renewed and aggressive political push by the party against the ruling BJP in the state. The protesters confronted the cops before being stopped near the BJP office.

Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das accused the Government of attempting “Vote Chori”, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise threatens democratic right.

Bhakta Das said, the verdict given by the Court yesterday shows that this case was politically motivated. ED is targeting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. False corruption charges are being made against them. A conspiracy is going on to destroy Democracy and the Constitutional value of India.

Congress also celebrated the procession as a “moral victory” following dismissal of ED cases against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, accusing the BJP of pursuing political vendetta.

Political observers see the protest as part of Bhakta Charan Das’s broader strategy to revive the Congress organisation in Odisha by taking the fight directly to the BJP, while simultaneously attempting to emerge as the principal opposition force in the state—replacing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has seen its influence wane after losing power.

Since taking charge of the state Congress, Bhakta Charan Das has adopted a confrontational approach, positioning the party as the most vocal challenger to the BJP government. By leading street protests, gheraos, and mass agitations, he is seeking to reconnect the Congress with grassroots workers and project the party as an active and fighting opposition.

The BJP is deliberately and baselessly targeting the Congress, which has been consistently working to protect the Constitution. In response, the Congress has raised a strong battle cry against such attacks.

The gherao at the BJP office is being viewed as a symbolic assertion of this intent, underlining the Congress’s effort to reclaim political space in Odisha through sustained agitation and direct confrontation with the ruling party.

Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident, and the protest remained largely peaceful.