Bhakta Charan Das

Bhakta Charan Das (born 26 November 1958) is an Indian politician from the state of Odisha. He served as a Member of Parliament in the 15th Lok Sabha, representing the Kalahandi constituency.^[1][2] He is currently the President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee the provincial outfit of the Indian National Congress party. He is active in electoral politics and had constest for the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2024 from Narla Assembly Constituency.^[3][4] Though having been placed at second position Bhakta managed an overall 12% increase in the voteshare of the Congress in Narla.

Bhakta Charan Das
President Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 February 2025
Preceded by	Sarat Pattanayak
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 2009–2014
Preceded by	Bikram Keshari Deo
Succeeded by	Arka Keshari Deo
Constituency	Kalahandi
In office 1996–1998
Preceded by	Subhash Chandra Nayak
Succeeded by	Bikram Keshari Deo
Constituency	Kalahandi
In office 1989–1991
Preceded by	Jagannath Patnaik
Succeeded by	Subhash Chandra Nayak
Constituency	Kalahandi
Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly
In office 1985–1990
Preceded by	Dayanidhi Naik
Succeeded by	Ajit Das
Constituency	Bhawanipatna
Minister of State in Ministry of Railways Government of India
In office 21 November 1990 – 21 June 1991
Prime Minister	Chandra Shekhar
Deputy Minister Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (India)
In office 23 April 1990 – 5 November 1990
Prime Minister	V. P. Singh
Personal details
Born	(1958-11-26) 26 November 1958 (age 67) Bhawanipatna, Odisha, India
Spouse	Sunanda Das
Children	Sagar Charan Das
Parents	Dibakar Das (father) Bilasha Das (mother)
Education	B.A., LL.B.
Alma mater	Sambalpur University
Profession	Politician, Advocate, Journalist

Apart from electoral politics Das is a noted and influential social activist who has been fighting for the rights of both Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe peoples' of Odisha through numerous social movements and people engaging activities.^[5][6]

As President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee he has been vocal in raising many issues which have plaguing the people of Odisha. Currently in his tenure as President the state unit of the Congress Party has conducted numerous outreach programs (padayatras), rallies, protests, state-wide strikes and protests in the Odisha Legislative Assembly to highlight the woes of the people of Odisha.^[7][8][9]

Political career

Parliament and Ministry

Das contested the 1989 Lok Sabha election from the Kalahandi Lok Sabha Constituency as a candidate of the Janata Party.^[10] He was later appointed Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in the Union Government under Prime Minister V.P. Singh having also been appointed as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways of India.^[11][12]

Personal Life

Bhakta is married to Sunanda Das and together they have two sons Kranti being the elder and Sagar Charan Dasbeing the younger who is also currently a lawmaker representing the Bhawanipatna Assembly Constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Odisha.

See also

• Kalahandi (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Indian general election in Orissa, 2009
• Indian National Congress
• Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee