The Regional Political Parties and the Leaders of Odisha: A brief History of Odisha during 1961-1980

Odisha has been in part a tradition-bound, underdeveloped, backward, and feudal state struggling in the path towards modernity. Hence, the emergence, development, and working of party system and party leadership in Odisha present an interesting study. Odisha, offers a unique opportunity to examine the capacity of political development to effect socio-economic change. Looking at the political instability which was persistent in the state for almost two decades between 1961-1980. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the repeated failures of Odisha's administration and legislative, which led to the imposition of president rule between the years 1961 and 1980. Thus, the study examines party politics in Odisha in all of its varied facets. The present chapter will first provide a historical background of the state of Odisha in order to properly understand the politics of Odisha in the post-independence period to the eighties of the last century. Secondly, the details of party politics and political leadership in Odisha in between the years 1960 and 1980 will be debated upon. This will allow for a proper understanding of the politics of Odisha in the post-independence period to the eighties of the twentieth century.