Bhubaneswar: In a significant development in Odisha politics, a new regional political outfit- Odisha Janata Congress (OJC) was formally launched today. The party’s founder, former Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim, announced its formation while addressing gathering on Wednesday.
Moquim declared that the new party will strongly advocate for the rights of Odias and position itself as a clear alternative to the BJP. He emphasized that the OJC will actively contest the upcoming municipal and panchayat elections, a move that has already created ripples across the ruling and opposition camps in the state.
Speaking to reporters, Moquim alleged that during the previous regime in Odisha, contractors and capitalists from other states had exploited local resources. He described the former government and the current one as “two sides of the same coin,” stating that while the ruling dispensation has changed, the underlying structure remains unaltered. He further remarked, “After Tamil Nadu, now the Gujarat structure has come,” in apparent reference to shifting political and economic influences in the state.
Moquim openly criticized the Congress, claiming it is functioning like a “team of the BJD.” He said he could no longer align with the Congress due to ideological differences and that the formation of the new party has opened a fresh path for youth leadership in Odisha.
The launch event saw the presence of Moquim’s daughter, Sofia Firdous, a suspended Congress MLA who had earlier faced suspension for cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha election. Her attendance at the meeting has sparked considerable speculation in political circles.
Moquim expressed confidence in his daughter, stating that Sophia will emerge as a leader for the people of Odisha in the future. When questioned about joining the meeting, Sophia responded: “Leaders from different parties often share the stage in various meetings.
The PCC president, BJD president, and even BJD Rajya Sabha MPs appear together with the BJP president. So what is the issue in attending any meeting? My father is forming a new party — as his daughter, why should there be any problem? I will decide my own future when the time comes.”
Mohammed Moquim was earlier expelled from the Indian National Congress. The formal launch of the Odisha Janata Congress follows months of preparation, including an initial announcement in March 2026 for a major rally in Bhubaneswar. The party aims to attract youth support and offer a new regional alternative focused on local aspirations, transparency, and corruption-free governance.
