POLITICAL MANDATE IN ODISHA

IS ODIA LOVES CONGRESS

(An analysis from 1^st to 6^th assembly election, where Congress got absolute majority in 1961 (3^rd assembly election)

Dr. Belal Sen

We have a wide-ranging political perception that Odia’s are loves congress. For which congress have ruled Odisha for so many years. Congress had destroyed Odisha with rampant corruption. Odias are poor due to the awful governance and corrupt practice of Congress. But if we go through the political mandate, we will disappoint with our perception.

From the first assembly election to till today, the people of Odisha say no Congress for so many times. Where as in all over India congress swept in many and measure states. But it is true that Congress had existed as largest party and manages to form government with the help of others.

In the first assembly election in 1952, from the 140 seats congress got 67 seats where Ganatantra Parishad got 31, Socialist 10, Communist 7, F.B (M) and Independent got one each. Nabakrushna Choudhury as the Leader of the majority party became the Chief Minister on 20th February, 1952. He resigned on the 19th October, 1956 and Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab was appointed as the Chief Minister on the same day.

Like this the Party position in Second Assembly in 1957 was Congress 56, Ganatantra Parishad 51, PSP 11, CPI 9 and Independent 13. Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab as the Leader of the largest single party in the legislature was appointed Chief Minister on 6th April, 1957. Rajendra Narayana Singh Deo was declared as the Leader of the Opposition. However, the Minority Government proved shaky and the Congress-Gantantra Parishad formed coalition Ministry on the 22nd May, 1959. The coalition Ministry resigned on the 21st February, 1961 due to differences in the Congress Party. President’s Rule was imposed for the first time in the State on 25th February, 1961.

After 10 years of Independence and assembly election Congress cross the magic mark in third assembly election. The party position in the Third Assembly was Congress 82, GP 37, PSP 10, CPI 4 and Independent 7. Congress forms the govt with the leadership of Biju Patnaik.  But Biju lasts 23rd June, 1961 to 2nd October, 1963 only. After him Subsequently Biren Mitra and Sadasiva Tripathy became the Chief Minister of Odisha.

In Fourth Assembly election the number game of Odisha politics was Swatantra Party 49, Jana Congress 26, INC 31, Praja Socialist Party (PSP) 21, CPI 7, CPI M 1, Samukhya Socialist Party 2 and Independents 3.  Meanwhile Ganatantra Parishad had merged itself in the Swatantra Party of India. A new regional party, Jana Congress had come into being under the leadership of Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab. Both Swatantra and Jana Congress Party formed the Coalition Government with R.N. Singh Deo, the Leader of the Swatantra Party, as the Chief Minister. Due to difference between the parties the Coalition Government collapsed on 9th January, 1971. In 1969 there was split in the Congress Party into Congress (R) and Congress (O). A new regional party called "Utkal Congress" under the leadership of Shri Biju Patnaik was formed towards the end of this period.

In Fifth assembly election INC got only 51 seats where as Swatantra Party 36, Utkal Congress 33, PSP 4, CPI 4, CPIM 2, INC (o) , Jana Congress 1, Jharkhanda 4 and Independents 4. Swatantra Party along with the new regional Party Utkal Congress formed the Coalition Ministry with Shri Biswanath Das as the Chief Minister. Again a new party named Pragati Legislature Party was formed with the Utkal Congress, Swatantra Party and others.

Party position in the Sixth Assembly as per the election result was INC 70, Swatantra Party 21, Utkal Congress 35, Jharkhand 1, CPI 7, CPI (M) 3, Jana Congress 1, Socialist Party 2, and Independents 7.  Smt. Nandini Satpathy, Leader of the Congress Party, formed the Ministry on the 6th March, 1974. Shri Biju Patnaik, Leader of Pragati Legislature Party was declared Leader of the Opposition on 19th March, 1974 and continued as such till the 10th December 1974. Towards the end of 1974, Bharatiya Lok Dal, a new All-India Party came into being with the merger of seven parties including Utkal Congress, Swatantra and S.S.P. On the 10th December, 1974, Pragati Legislature Party was renamed as Bharatiya Lok Dal Legislature Party and Shri Biju Patnaik as the Leader of the Bharatiya Lok Dal was declared Leader of Opposition. Shri Patnaik continued as such till 24th March, 1977.

The Janata Party was formed with the amalgamation of Bharatiya Lok Dal, Congress (O) and the Socialist Party in early 1977. On the 31st March, 1977 formation of the Janata Legislature Party was announced in the House and Shri Ram Prasad Mishra, Leader of Janata Legislature Party, was declared the Leader of Opposition and he continued to function as such till 30th April, 1977. Smt. Satpathy resigned on 16th December, 1976 and Orissa was placed under President’s Rule till 29th December, 1976, but the Assembly was kept under suspended animation. Shri Binayak Acharya was elected as the Leader of the Congress Party in place of Smt. Satpathy and became the Chief Minister of Orissa on 29th December, 1976 and continued as such till 30th April, 1977. The State was placed again under President’s Rule from 30th April, 1977 to 26th June, 1977.

From 1^st assembly election to 6^th assembly election congress got absolutely numbers for form a govt in 1961. Which govt. lasts only 2 years. In 6^th assembly election congress close to the magic number. But congress govt. destabilized several times put the state under the Presedent Rule….

In next column I will analyzing from 7^th assembly election.

 drbelalsen@gmail.com