Editing Utkal Congress (section)

== Background ==

Odisha was a stronghold of Congress in immediate post independence era. However factionalism was rife. A group of Congress dissidents led by [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] split in 1967 to form [[Jana Congress]]. In 1967 general election Most of the leadership of Congress lost. In 1969 Congress split at national level forming [[Congress(O)]] and [[Congress(R)]]. Biju Patnaik remained with Congress(R) which was led by [[Indira Gandhi|Smt Indira Gandhi]]. However, in 1970 Rajya sabha elections the state unit proposed a different candidate to that of the central leadership. However, in the election both candidates lost. This caused Biju Patnaik led group to sever all the ties from the central leadership. Initially named as Utkal Pradesh Congress, the group ultimately chose Utkal Congress as their name with Biju Patnaik, Rabi Ray along with securing support from two former Chief Ministers of Odisha - [[Harekrushna Mahatab|Harekrushna Mahtab]], [[Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo|R.N.Singh Deo]] (Swatantra Party) & the [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] whose state unit merged into the Utkal Congress in 1972 following the SSP's dissolution.<ref name="Grover 1997 p. 448">{{cite book | last=Grover | first=V. | title=Indian Political System: Trends and Challenges | publisher=Deep & Deep Publications | issue=v. 10 | year=1997 | isbn=978-81-7100-883-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M4yABACTXw4C&pg=PA462 | access-date=2019-07-01 | page=448}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pioneer |first=The |title=Bijubabu's life a saga of adventures, sacrifices |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/bijubabu-s-life-a-saga-of-adventures--sacrifices.html |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=The Pioneer |language=en}}</ref>