Cuttack: The political landscape in Cuttack is undergoing a swift transformation. While discussions surrounding the Congress party intensify, former MLA Mohammad Mokim has dropped a significant hint. Cuttack-Barabati MLA Sofia Firdous, his daughter, may soon exit the Congress to helm the Odisha Janata Congress (OJC), the party founded by her father.
Mokim revealed that as a newly formed organization, OJC is launching various initiatives and opening its doors to new members. However, he clarified that elected representatives cannot switch parties until their term concludes, which explains Sofia’s current presence in Congress. “Wait and watch—time will reveal who aligns with whom,” Mokim remarked, strongly indicating that Sofia could join his party once her term ends.
In a separate development, MLA Sofia addressed the presence of five corporators and former Cuttack district Congress president Manas Chowdhury at a friends’ gathering on Pakhala Diwas. She described the corporators as “our own people,” emphasizing that personal bonds and mutual respect remain intact despite shifting political stances. “In Cuttack, we win elections purely on the strength of personal relationships,” Sofia asserted.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack city Congress has begun efforts to reorganize itself by sidelining MLA Sofia. Several corporators and workers who previously stood with Mohammad Mokim and Sofia have now defected to other camps, fueling speculation about the weakening of their organizational base.
Responding to these developments, Mokim stated, “I was expelled from Congress two months ago and subsequently formed Odisha Janata Congress. I maintain no ties with the Congress party.” He noted that the corporators remain with Congress and their decisions are personal. “We are actively building our new organization and rolling out various programs. Anyone interested may join Odisha Janata Congress,” he affirmed.
Mokim declared that OJC would position itself as an alternative to the BJP while challenging the government on multiple fronts. “We do not compare ourselves with BJD or Congress. The upcoming municipal elections will serve as a litmus test for Odisha Janata Congress,” he said. He further claimed that the upcoming Utkal Divas would lay bare the organizational strength of every political player in Cuttack.
