This article critically examines the dynamics of state power and political leadership in connection to the regional disparities of Odisha in a historical and present context, using both historical and empirical data. It finds a pattern of highly dominant, discriminatory and exclusionary politics and leadership. That resulted in regular and frequent control of state power by ‘Brahmin–Karan–Khandayat’ of the eastern region in collaboration with the upper-caste feudal and landlord rulers of the western region. Thus it is argued that the eastern regional upper castes dominated state power derived maximum advantage over the western region in the creation, distribution and utilisation of state resources. On the other hand, the western region has remained under the control of upper-caste feudalists and landlords while by sharing the power with their eastern partners for self-gain but did not do much for the progressive transformation in the redistribution of resources.
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