New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The suspense surrounding the meeting of the 23 District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents with their national vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi ended as all the district chiefs emerging out of the meeting voiced their unequivocal and unstinting support for the PCC president Prasad Harichandan.
The rumour, which was flying thick and fast that Harichandan’s position is at stake, was set aside in the meeting as the district presidents openly advocated his leadership abilities before the Congress high command.
“Prasad is our president and there is no question of removing him from the post. We discussed how to strengthen his leadership and the party’s organization ahead of the panchayat polls. All of us had a free and open discussion with Rahul. He advised us to work hard to improve the performance of the party in the panchayat polls. We will have another round meeting with him after three months. Moqim further said the Congress vice president asked the DCC presidents to take action against the dissident party workers,” said Cuttack Nagar Congress president Mohammed Moquim.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, AICC leader and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad said the meeting discussed about the ensuing panchayat polls in Odisha. The Congress vice-president advised the DCC presidents to improve the performance of the party in the panchayat polls.
Asked about the absence of the eight DCC presidents in the meeting, he said their presence in the meeting was not necessary as they had met Rahul Gandhi earlier.
However, on the other hand, senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik in his critique about the PCC president’s role said, just occupying the post and doing nothing won’t help the party to get votes.
“If everything is going well then why aren’t we getting votes? Votes won’t come by occupying a position, but by working for people and being accepted by people,” said Niranjan.