Bhubaneswar: Sarat Patnayak, president of the Odisha State Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) said the Congress party will defeat both the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state's 2024 elections.

He said: "We will begin a number of things that I can't yet discuss. BJD and BJP are merged in Odisha. BJD is helping the BJP pass every measure. A BJP Rajyasabha member from Odisha who won with the support of the BJD is now a Minister. Both have a nine-year reign in Odisha."

Furthermore, he claimed that "People are leaving Odisha in quest of employment because the state is still in poverty. The state was only developed while Congress was in control of it. Congress placed second in the most recent election. Therefore, I am confident that Congress will retake control in the 2024 election."

The state Congress president accused the BJD and BJP of working together solely to seize power in the state.
Last week, Senior Congress leader Jaydev Jena in a statement had said that the 2024 Assembly election could be "last chance" for the party to come to power in Odisha as the people are annoyed with both BJD and BJP. To regain control of the state after a 20-year absence, he advised all Congress leaders to unite and run in the 2024 election.

"There will be no room for the party for next 15 years if we do not prevail in the Odisha elections of 2024. Also, if Congress sets up government in 2024, it would rule for an additional 15 years. In order to defeat both the BJD and the BJP in the polls, all party leaders should unite " he said, adding that even God won't be able to salvage the party if Congress loses the 2024 election for the Odisha Assembly.

OPCC President Sarat Pattnayak stated that although though the Congress currently only has nine MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the party is certain that its representation will increase to 90 in the 2024 elections.