The Indian National Congress has once again demonstrated its low tolerance for internal criticism by expelling a senior leader from Odisha. The party removed former legislator Mohammed Moquim from its ranks after he publicly released a letter containing severe allegations against the national and state leadership.
The Expulsion and the Accusations
The Congress justified its drastic action by accusing Moquim of operating with a "BJP mindset" and working for the interests of the saffron party. Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das stated that while giving a letter to Sonia Gandhi was acceptable, releasing it to the press was not, indicating Moquim's desire to leave the party. Ironically, Das was one of the primary targets of Moquim's critique.
This incident is not isolated. Over the past 11 years, as the party's political fortunes have waned, it has repeatedly silenced dissent. The most notable example was the action against the G-23 group in 2020, which had written to Sonia Gandhi demanding collective leadership. While some dissidents were expelled and others left voluntarily, the party's operational style remained unchanged.
Stinging Critique in Moquim's Letter
Moquim's communication outlined a grim picture of the Congress's health. He argued that the party's presence is "shrinking geographically, organisationally, and even emotionally" due to internal decisions rather than external opponents. He blamed a series of wrong decisions and misguided leadership choices for weakening the party from within.
A key concern was the growing chasm between the leadership and the grassroots. Moquim claimed that booth workers and district-level leaders, the party's backbone, feel "unseen and unheard," making electoral success nearly impossible. He revealed his own struggle, stating that despite being an MLA, he was unable to meet Rahul Gandhi for almost three years.
Focus on Odisha's Steep Decline
While his remarks targeted national figures like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, the letter's core focused on the Congress's decay in Odisha. Moquim highlighted that the party has lost six consecutive elections in the state. The last time Congress won in Odisha was in 1995.
He specifically attacked the leadership of Bhakta Charan Das and his predecessor, Sarat Pattanayak. Moquim pointed to the Nuapada by-election, which falls under Das's parliamentary segment, where Congress lost by a massive margin of nearly 83,000 votes. He questioned appointing state chiefs who cannot secure their own victories, noting that Pattanayak lost six consecutive Lok Sabha elections and oversaw the party's lowest-ever vote share of 13% in the 2024 polls.
The electoral trajectory in Odisha tells a story of consistent erosion:
- 2000: 26 seats
- 2004: 38 seats
- 2009: 27 seats
- 2014: 10 seats
- 2019: 9 seats
- 2024: 14 seats
The party, which once ruled the state, first ceded space to the regional Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and then to the BJP, mirroring its national decline.
A Missed Opportunity for Revival?
Political observers suggest that while Moquim's intent may be questionable, his message should not be ignored. The Congress in Odisha is currently in no position to challenge the ruling BJP. However, the unprecedented beating received by the BJD in the 2024 assembly elections presents a potential opening. The BJD now relies heavily on an aging Naveen Patnaik for revival, creating voter discontent that the Congress could theoretically exploit.
Yet, there appears to be no coherent roadmap for Congress's revival in the state. Critics argue that the state leadership needs to focus on substantive organizational rebuilding rather than symbolic protests if it hopes to pose a real challenge.
The story of Congress's decline in Odisha is replicated in states like Bihar and West Bengal, where it was first sidelined by regional parties and then decimated by the BJP's strategic inroads. As the party dumps another dissident, the critical question remains: will it also dump the urgent message of structural and leadership reform that he carried?
