Bhubaneswar: Once again infighting has returned to haunt Odisha Congress with senior leaders openly demanding a change of guard in Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
A day after the closed door meeting held at the residence of Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra’s residence, three senior legislators of Congress—Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Jogesh Singh and Prafulla Majhi on Tuesday came out openly with their demand for change of guard in Odisha Congress.
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All the three legislators of the party informed that they would meet AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi and apprise him about the issue.
“Everybody knows that Congress has become weak in Odisha as many leaders and workers have started quitting the party. All the legislators and senior leaders have decided to revive the party which is only possible after OPCC change of guard,” said Jogesh Singh.
Singh further said that many in the party believe to infuse life back into the party, it is important to change PCC president Prasad Harichandan and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad.
“We want a complete organisational change as it is important for the party to contest the 2019 elections. We will meet Rahul Gandhi and discuss the issue,” said Tara Prasad Bahinipati.
Prafulla Majhi also corroborated the decision stating that AICC would take a final call on OPCC leadership change. But we will apprise the high command about our grievances and demands, Majhi added.
PCC spokesperson Debasish Patnaik, on the other hand, expressed resentment over the statements of Congress leaders for discussing such issues in public platforms.
“Everything in Congress is decided by the party high command. But prior to any decision taken by the top leadership such discussions in media are uncalled for,” said Patnaik.