The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday announced that it would launch a padayatra across the state from August 9 with the aim of revitalising the party, boosting the sagging morale of the cadres, and exposing the BJD government’s failure before the public.

The decision to launch the padayatra was taken at the two-day Nava Sankalp Shivir that began here on Wednesday. The shivir put thrust on making the party ready for the 2024 general election. This meeting assumes significance as it is being held under the leadership of Sarat Pattanayak who made the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president only a few days ago.

The padayatra in each district will cover at least 75km of that respective district. The PCC chief will join the padayatra in each district and address the cadres and supporters.

Pattanayak said: “The Congress will give a tough fight to the BJD. Those who are thinking that Congress won’t be able to make a comeback should change their mentality. The Congress has the required base to bring about a change in the state. Taking senior leaders with us, we have chalked out a new strategy for this.”

The party has been out of power in the state for the past 22 years. All the senior leaders attended the meeting and deliberated on how to make the party stronger and more vibrant. The new PCC has made it clear that it’s only the Congress that can dislodge the BJD government from power.

Pattanayak also maintained that committees would be set up under the chairmanship of senior leaders in various areas such as economy, social front, women and youth empowerment, farmers’ welfare, and other subjects.

In the meeting, Pattanayak made it clear that the party would focus on discipline. The party is aware that until and unless discipline is enforced it wouldn’t be possible to keep the party united. The party has already been divided into a number of camps. It is Pattanayak’s second innings as the Pradesh Congress chief. He served as the Odisha Congress chief from 2001 to 2004.

“The biggest challenge before Pattanayak is how to boost up the morale of the party cadres which has been at its lowest ever following the party’s debacle both in the urban and panchayat elections held recently. The fund crunch is another big issue for the party. The party leadership will have to arrange funds. Besides, it needs to give a sense of confidence to the people that the party can dislodge the Naveen Patnaik government,” said a senior Congress leader.

Some other leaders opine that Pattanayak has influence in Western Odisha but he needs to make himself a leader with a pan Odisha appeal.