Akhilesh Yadav’s Meeting with Senior Congress Leader Sends Ripples of Unease Through the Party

A recent meeting between Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader Srikant Kumar Jena has sparked a wave of concern within the Congress, particularly in Odisha. The two leaders held a joint press conference in Bhubaneswar, where Yadav expressed his admiration for Jena, calling for unity in the fight for social justice. This public display of camaraderie has left many within Congress uneasy, especially in light of Jena’s ongoing dissatisfaction with his treatment within the party.

Jena, a veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, has been vocal about feeling sidelined, particularly after Bhakta Charan Das, a leader considered his junior, was appointed to the position of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president in February. While Jena has publicly insisted that he is not planning to leave the Congress, many within the Odisha Congress are questioning why he chose to address the press alongside the SP president.

At the press conference, Akhilesh Yadav praised Jena, saying, “If people like him come together, the fight for social justice will be fought unitedly.” His remarks were seen by some as a subtle attempt to court Jena, signaling the SP’s interest in expanding its influence in Odisha—where the Congress has been losing ground.

This development comes at a time when Odisha Congress is struggling to retain its shrinking base. A senior Congress leader from the state expressed concern over the public nature of the meeting, suggesting that it could have been handled privately. “What was the need to hold a press conference with him? If Jena had to meet Yadav, it could have been done privately,” the leader said.

Despite the concerns, Jena was quick to downplay the significance of the meeting, asserting that it was a casual encounter with an old acquaintance. “I’ve known Akhilesh ji’s family for years, and we are part of the INDIA alliance. I am not going anywhere, and I will continue to work within the Congress,” Jena clarified, attempting to reassure his party colleagues.

However, the meeting raises larger questions about Jena’s future within the Congress and the SP’s broader strategy in Odisha. A Congress leader in Delhi remarked, “Jena is an important name in Odisha, and we cannot afford to lose him. We will ensure he is happy within the party and address any concerns he has.”

In the backdrop of these developments, sources within the SP confirmed that the party is keen to strengthen its presence in Odisha—a state where Congress once held significant influence but has since seen its vote share steadily decline. According to the SP leadership, the party is not only in talks with Jena but is also exploring potential alliances with leaders from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has faced growing internal challenges, particularly regarding party chief Naveen Patnaik’s leadership.

“The situation in Odisha is shifting. The BJD’s internal problems and the growing discontent with the BJP provide an opening for the SP to build its base here,” said a senior SP leader. With Congress struggling to remain relevant in Odisha, the SP is eyeing the state as a key battleground, potentially expanding its influence at a time when Congress has seen its vote share in the state plummet from 16.12% in 2019 to 13.26% in the last Assembly elections. While Congress gained a few more seats, its overall influence remains diminished.

Jena, who was expelled from the Congress in 2019 and rejoined the party in March 2024, recently lost the Lok Sabha elections in Balasore to BJP’s Pratap Chandra Sarangi, further underscoring the challenges Congress faces in retaining its foothold in the state.

The internal dynamics within Congress in Odisha highlight the growing challenge the party faces as its traditional influence wanes. The spectacle of Jena’s meeting with Akhilesh Yadav and the public nature of their collaboration has made it clear that the Congress is not only at risk of losing valuable senior leaders but is also under pressure to reassess its strategy to maintain its relevance in the state.

With the SP keen to expand its footprint and the Congress facing mounting internal challenges, the political landscape in Odisha is poised for further shifts, and it remains to be seen how the Congress high command will address these emerging threats.