Bhubaneswar, December 10: Congress leader and former MLA Mohammed Moquim has raised concerns over the appointment of Bhakta Charan Das as the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief for 2025, citing his history of electoral defeats and leadership issues.

In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Moquim criticized Das for his ideological differences, pointing to his opposition to the Gandhi family during the Jayaprakash movement and his support for the Koshal movement. Moquim argued that such stances reflect a lack of alignment with the party's core values.

Moquim also highlighted Das’s failure in leadership, particularly the Congress's significant loss in the Nuapada by-election, where the party was defeated by over 80,000 votes in Das's own constituency. He contended that if Das cannot secure trust in his own region, it would be unlikely for party workers to follow his leadership on a broader scale.

A committed Congress member for years, Moquim expressed his frustration with the party’s continual setbacks in elections, urging for stronger and more effective leadership to revitalize the party. He also noted the growing disconnect between party leadership and grassroots workers.

Moquim took issue with Rahul Gandhi’s brief interaction during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which he felt missed an opportunity to connect with the people directly. He emphasized the need for the party to focus on energizing local leaders and booth workers to create meaningful change.