Khordha District Congress Observes Gandhi and Shastri Jayanti ;Party leaders pay floral tributes to the Father of the Nation and former Prime Minister; DCC president Rajeeb Pattnaik leads commemorative programme.

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, OCTOBER 2: The Khordha District Congress Committee (DCC) observed the birth anniversaries of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on Friday, organising a commemorative programme in the town to pay tribute to the two eminent national leaders and remember their contributions to the country. The programme was organised by the district Congress committee, with party leaders and workers assembling to offer floral tributes to the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. The observance began in the morning under the leadership of DCC president Rajeeb Pattnaik, who led the party delegation in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at State Bank Square in Khordha.
The Congress leaders and workers gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and offered floral tributes as part of the birth anniversary observance. The programme provided an occasion for the party leadership and its workers to remember the life, contributions and legacy of the Father of the Nation.
Following the tribute programme at State Bank Square, the Congress leaders proceeded to the Congress Bhawan office in Khordha, where they paid floral tributes to the statue of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. The leaders commemorated the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister, recalling his place in the country’s political history.
The twin observance brought together senior district Congress leaders, elected representatives, office-bearers and party workers. The programme was marked by floral tributes and a collective expression of respect for the two national leaders, whose birth anniversaries fall on October 2.
Mahatma Gandhi, widely recognised as the Father of the Nation, played a central role in India’s freedom movement through his commitment to truth, non-violence and peaceful resistance. His contribution to the country’s struggle for independence continues to occupy a significant place in India’s national life.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, who served as the country’s Prime Minister, is remembered for his leadership and contribution to national affairs. The Congress leaders paid homage to both personalities during the programme organised by the Khordha District Congress Committee.
Among those present on the occasion were former Khordha Assembly constituency candidate Sonali Sahu, senior Congress leader Swagatika Pattnaik and senior advocate Sishir Parida. Khordha Town Congress president Ranjit Mahapatra, district vice-president Pradosh Harichandan and zonal president Jitendra Champati also attended the programme.
District Youth Congress working president Soumya Baral and district general secretaries Shreya Sethi, Jayanti Ray, Sibu Nayak and Richardson Das were among the other prominent party functionaries present.
Several other Congress leaders and party workers participated in the observance and joined in paying floral tributes to the two national leaders.
The programme concluded with the participation of party functionaries and workers in the commemorative observance at the two locations in Khordha, marking the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri under the banner of the Khordha District Congress Committee.