Boost for Odisha Congress as ex-minister Srikant Jena returns

The party may field Jena in LS polls from a coastal constituency as he had in the past won twice from Cuttack — 1989 to 1991 and 1991 to 1996 — and once from Kendrapada (1996 to 1998) and Balasore (2009 to 2014). He unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Balasore.

“There were some misunderstandings which have been clarified. I met the Congress president and things were sorted out. I am glad that I am back in Congress. The people of Odisha are unhappy with the unholy nexus between the BJD and BJP. Their real face has been exposed after the PM’s (Narendra Modi) visit to Odisha. The Congress and INDIA bloc will fight against them,” Jena said in New Delhi.

Jena began his career in Janata party and became a legislator to the Odisha Assembly in 1977 from Bari in Jajpur district. He continued to represent the seat till 1989. He served as a minister in Odisha. Later, he switched to the Congress and became a key face of the party in Odisha. He is a critic of CM Naveen Patnaik. Following his exit from Congress, Jena launched a non-political platform—Samajika Nyay Abhiyan—that advocated for a social justice movement.