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Berhampur: At a time when Odisha Congress has intensified its activities in a bid to infuse life into the party unit in the State, intra-party squabble has once again raised its ugly head.
The faction in the party cadres has come to light after a brief lull when a group of senior leaders has camped in Delhi pressing for restructuring of State Pradesh Congress Committee.
Senior leaders including former Minister Rabindra Sethy, Radhakant Digal, Debendra Sharma, Chinmay Beuria and Kumar Chiranjeev will meet the party high command to press for a change in PCC president, sources said.
The group of the party leaders have argued that the Pradesh Committee should get a facelift with young and dynamic leaders in place.
A change of guard in the Odisha PCC is the need of the hour as the condition of the party in State is declining, said Debendra Sharma.
Sharma added that they will meet Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to put forth their demands and appraise party's situation in State.
"We want restructuring of party as it is weakening in the State. We will meet the high command and demand to restructure the entire Pradesh Committee to strengthen the base at grassroots level," Sharma said.
The Delhi visit of the dissenting leaders comes at a time when the party is meeting in Berhampur to celebrate the Saheed Divas and prepare a blueprint to strengthen its base in the grassroots level.
Congress Odisha in-charge Dr Chella Kumar who attended the gathering in Berhampur reacted to his own leaders' visit to the high command. "Anybody can go to Delhi. Everyone has the right to claim." Kumar said.
Meanwhile, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik hit out at both State and Central Government over rise in price of petrol and diesel. He warned of a state-wide bandh on February 15 if the State or Centre doesn't take steps for the reduction of prices of fuel.
Patnaik gave a 15-day ultimatum to the Government to reduce the prices of petrol and diesel by at least Rs 15.
Launching a scathing attack on Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Patnaik said "This is not Biju Janata Dal but 'Bichitra Janata Dal' which has done nothing in last 20 years of tenure except opening of more liquor shops in the State. The continuous hike in prices of petrol and diesel has pinched the pocket of common man. The Congress party will call for a state-wide bandh on February 15 if the government fails to take any steps for reduction of prices within 15 days."
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
