Despite making a big last ditch effort to save his chair, Niranjan Patnaik was shown the door by the Congress High Command, which realised the need for a change in leadership in Odisha. Former PCC President Jayadev Jena was finally entrusted with the task of reviving the Congress in Odisha, which has been on a slide.

The anti-Niranjan lobby was so strong that he was not even asked to resign and Jayadev Jena was appointed as the PCC President through an AICC press release. This time, Jagdish Tytler failed to save Niranjan, as he himself trying hard to move out of the trouble in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Congress has reasons to smile, as it has projected another Dalit leader as face of the party in Odisha. The elevation of Bhakta Charan Das as the AICC Spokesperson and appointment of Jayadev Jena as the new PCC President have proved beyond that the
Congress Party is for a change as far as Odisha is concerned.

Under Niranjan’s leadership, the Odisha Congress got bad reputation whether it’s mining scam or the September 6 violence at Lower PMG. People of India lost the trust on Niranjan because of his direct relations with JP Patnaik family. With Jayadev Jena at the helm, the Congress Party may expect some miracle in the 2014 polls.