Bhubaneswar: Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) state coordinator Seshadev Nanda on Monday formally joined the Odisha Janata Congress (OJC), marking a significant political development involving the farmers’ organisation ahead of the upcoming panchayat and municipal elections.

Nanda joined the party at the OJC state headquarters in Satya Nagar, Bhubaneswar, in the presence of party president Mohammad Moquim and other senior leaders. The development comes as the newly formed regional party continues to expand its organisational network across Odisha. OJC was formally launched in April 2026 by former Congress leader Mohammed Moquim.

A large number of farmers from around 10 districts reportedly took part in a rally from Rupali Square to the OJC office at Satya Nagar to welcome Nanda and express support for his decision to join the party.

Addressing the gathering, Nanda said the vision with which the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan was originally formed no longer exists in the organisation. He said he and his supporters would now work through OJC under the leadership of its senior leaders.

Nanda also said OJC would focus on the interests of farmers and work to strengthen its presence at the grassroots level. He said the party would reach villages across Odisha ahead of the forthcoming panchayat and municipal elections.

According to Nanda, the organisation would work to put people's interests at the forefront and expand its political activities across the state. He also claimed that those continuing protests in the name of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan no longer represented the organisation's original vision.

OJC president Mohammed Moquim welcomed Nanda and the farmers who accompanied him, saying the party would work for the interests of Odisha's farming community.

The induction is part of OJC's ongoing efforts to build its organisational base in the state. The party has already announced a series of political programmes and has been raising issues concerning Odisha's interests and governance. In September, OJC led an economic blockade at Chandikhole against provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.

The party had earlier announced its organisational office-bearers, including six vice-presidents, 10 general secretaries and 10 secretaries, as part of efforts to strengthen its structure across Odisha.

Nanda's move is expected to give OJC an additional organisational link with farmer groups as the party prepares to expand its activities ahead of the next round of local-body elections.