What role did the Indian National Congress play in Odisha’s early state politics?

Following the establishment of the state of Odisha in 1950, the Indian National Congress (Congress Party) played a dominant role in its early politics. For the first five decades of the state's existence, the government was largely controlled by the Congress Party.1

This period of dominance was characterized by consistent electoral success, with only a few notable exceptions. The party’s hold on power was interrupted only during the periods of 1967–72, 1977–80, and 1990–95, as well as during several brief intervals when the state was under the rule of the central Indian government. This pattern of early dominance followed by a shift toward alternating power with other national or regional parties was a trend observed in many Indian states during the post-independence era.12