Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Odisha’s PCC President Bhakta Charan Das inaugurated a Padayatra (foot march) in Malkangiri. This event, known as the Bhakta Padayatra Malkangiri, signifies an important political movement in the region.
The primary aim of the Padayatra is to highlight the long-standing problems of the tribal-dominated belt and to strengthen the organisational base in southern Odisha ahead of the upcoming elections. Moreover, it sets the tone for Congress’ larger outreach campaign.
The Padayatra began from Motu near the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border in the presence of district and block-level party leaders, as well as grassroots workers. Importantly, the march drew massive participation of villagers who walked alongside Congress leaders, turning the launch into a show of strength.
Malkangiri, located in Odisha’s south-western corner, continues to be one of the state’s most underdeveloped districts. Although it is rich in natural resources and cultural heritage, the region struggles with widespread poverty, high unemployment, poor connectivity, and inadequate infrastructure.
Large-scale displacement of tribals due to hydroelectric and irrigation projects has worsened the crisis. Additionally, poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) remains a major grievance. Farmers also face challenges such as lack of irrigation facilities and low Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy and millet.
The district’s health indicators are equally grim. High infant and maternal mortality rates, widespread malnutrition in tribal villages, and the poor condition of government hospitals have raised serious concerns. Similarly, road links and telecom networks remain inadequate, while the much-publicised Gurupriya bridge-led development has shown slow progress.
Fears of further submergence of tribal villages and the absence of proper rehabilitation measures for displaced families continue to haunt local communities. Consequently, Das accused both the BJD and BJP governments of consistently ignoring tribal voices.
Local Congress leaders described the Padayatra as a “historic awakening movement.” They believe the campaign could reconnect the party with tribal and farmer communities and revive Congress’ political presence in Odisha.
The Malkangiri Padayatra is part of Congress’ state-wide strategy to regain lost ground. Over the next 10 days, the march will cover more than 100 villages. During this period, Das and other leaders will organise street-corner meetings, tribal sabhas, and farmer dialogues to directly interact with people.
By launching the campaign in Malkangiri, Bhakta Charan Das has symbolically chosen Odisha’s most backward tribal district to highlight Congress’ pro-people agenda. This move not only reinforces the party’s grassroots connect in southern Odisha but also sends a strong political message ahead of the elections.
Experts point out that during the BJD regime, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik often chose Malkangiri to launch flagship state programs such as Rice @ One Rupee per Kg, BSKY health insurance, and the LAccMI bus scheme. Similarly, Bhakta’s decision to begin here may help him follow a familiar political path to strengthen Congress’ base in the region.
