TV
In the wake of the poor electoral show in the last General Elections, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) dissolved the Odisha Pradesh Congress unit, including its chief Sarat Pattanayak, on July 21 paving the way for a complete restructuring of the party. However, nobody is currently at the helm of affairs of the grand old party in the State even after one and a half months.
Though the first meeting of the Congress steering committee was held on July 22 under the chairmanship of AICC’s Odisha In-Charge Ajoy Kumar to find out the next chief of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, no decision could be made in this regard.
“I can’t tell now who is going to be the next PCC chief. Deliberations are currently going on in this regard,” said Ajoy Kumar.
According to the party’s senior leader Santosh Singh Saluja, the committee will send the name of the leader for the top post of the PCC on the basis of recommendations by the district and block level Congress leaders.
“The steering committee will visit various districts and take the opinions of current and former party district presidents, MLAs and block presidents. Subsequently, the name of the leader will be sent to the AICC as per the recommendations. We will choose a strong leader for the post,” said Saluja.
As per sources, former MLA of Cuttack-Barabati Mohammed Moquim is leading the race to be the next president of Odisha Congress. Though Moquim didn’t get the ticket in the last election, he managed to get his daughter Sofia Firdous elected. Moreover, Moquim was entrusted with the responsibility of staging a protest at the ED office on July 21 and he fulfilled his responsibilities well. He was also successful in satisfying the experienced, new and discontent leaders on the dais.
Discussions are now doing the rounds that Moquim is likely to be the next PCC president. In response, Moqim said that he would take up whatever responsibility is given to him by the party.
“People especially the youths have the same feelings and emotions for Congress which was reflected during the ED office gherao. I took up the responsibility and conducted it in a successful manner as a disciplined worker of the party. Many more works are to be undertaken in future. The leader who will be able to execute the works properly will be given the responsibility as PCC chief,” said Moquim.
Speculation is also gaining traction that former PCC President Jayadev Jena and veteran leader Srikant Jena are also in the race.
In response, Jayadev Jena said, “The steering committee is doing its work. Whoever will be appointed as the PCC chief by AICC high command, we will work with him.”
Meanwhile, as per political experts, Congress is getting stronger in Odisha and the AICC may opt for a leader who has the potential to strengthen the party further.
“After the successful protest in front of the ED office, Congress seems to reviving in Odisha. Around 7,000 to 8,000 party workers and all the senior leaders of the party were present during the protest. AICC will select a strong leader as PCC chief,” said senior journalist Rabi Das.
