Lulu’s salvo exposes Congress in-fighting again

Bhubaneswar: The intra-party fighting in Congress once again came to fore on Monday after senior leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra (Lulu) raised the matter of lack of coordination in the party.

"There is a communication gap and lack of co-ordination among the senior leaders. It is not possible on the part of All India Congress Committee (AICC) to interfere in the matter of Pradesh Congress Committee always. We should resolve our own issues", Mohapatra said.

The statement of the senior leader came at a time when the party leaders were planning a road map for a grand movement over Mahanadi row and chalking out action plan for the upcoming panchayat polls at a meeting at Congress Bhawan here today. The meeting was attended by district presidents and other office bearers.

However PCC president Prasad Harichandan appeared to be ‘soft’ on Lulu's remark saying the meeting was being held to bring coordination among party leaders.

"It is quite natural there would be differences of opinions in a party. We are convening meeting to take all opinions into account and make one unanimously", Harichandan said.

On the other hand, the grand old party has decided to give the responsibility of the panchayat election to its senior members. Similarly, it was decided in the meeting that the party would organise mega rallies in all the districts through which the Mahanadi passes.

"The party has prepared the blueprint to reach people with the issues of Mahanadi water row, ration card irregularities and forest right act in next six months", former MP Pradeep Majhi said.