Bhubaneswar: Speculations on a support base test of present PCC chief Prasad Harichandan to be undertaken by the Congress central leadership in coming days intensified today after 22 party district presidents got a call to meet vice president Rahul Gandhi on November 2 in New Delhi.
Sources said the party’s Central leadership has decided to hold the test of support base for Harichandan after Congress legislators of Odisha met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and complained against the present PCC chief as believed by many in the political circle of the State.
The sources added in the first phase Rahul has asked 22 party district presidents of 33 organisational districts to meet him on November 2, while rest of the district chiefs will be intimated later about their meeting in next phase.
Suresh Routray, Khurda District president, Congress, said, “On November 2, Rahul Gandhi has asked me to meet him.”
Bhagaban Bagarti, Balangir District President, Congress, who have got a call from the party’s vice president, said, “He (Rahul) might give instructions regarding strengthening of party organisation at the district level.”
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On the other hand, Minakshi Bahinipati, Koraput District President, Congress, said, “We would have got information regarding the meeting either from the PCC or the Delhi party office. However, Prasad as the PCC chief has not passed on any information yet.”
Commenting on the ensuing meeting between Rahul and the party’s district chiefs, Anant Prasad Sethi, a senior Congress leader, said, “The party Central leadership might have something on their mind in connection with panchayat polls in the State. Therefore, the district chiefs have been called for a meeting.”