Process on anvil to give Odisha Congress its new chief

The process to fill up the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief post which has been lying vacant for three-and-a-half months has started with PCC Selection Committee head Charan Das Mahant conducting marathon meetings with party leaders on Monday. 

Upon his arrival in Bhubaneswar, while replying to the queries of journalists, Mahant said he wouldn’t give houseroom to lobby as he is a man of ‘no lobby’. 

“Our high command, Soniaji, Khargeji and Rahulji, all are well aware of Odisha’s situation. All are worried about finding a leader who will not only take Congress forward but also strengthen it. For this, they have sent me,” said Mahant. 

“I will first meet the senior leaders and hear them. I will inform their opinions to my superiors,” he added. 

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He tactfully parried journalists’ questions on when the OPCC will get its new chief, saying it would be known to top leaders.  

As per earlier speculations, former MLA of Barabati-Cuttack, Mohammed Moquim has emerged as a front-runner to be the next president of the Odisha Congress. Though Moquim didn’t get the ticket in the last election, he managed to get his daughter Sofia Firdous elected. It is also speculated that former PCC President Jayadev Jena and veteran leader Srikant Jena are also in the race.