After 2019 poll debacle, restructuring of Odisha Congress on cards

Bhubaneswar: Termed as the worst performance of the party since Independence, Odisha Congress lost its principal opposition tag after its drubbing defeat in the recently concluded 2019 elections. These are now testing times for the Congress while the top leadership is indicating towards a massive restructuring of the grand old party in the State.

Party's Odisha in-charge Jitendra Singh today informed that there would be a massive reshuffle and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) will be restructured.

Singh along with senior leader, TS Singh Deo today held a closed-door meeting at Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar with the MLA and MP candidates to review the poll performance.

Several State leaders including George Tirkey and Bobby Mohanty held Congress workers responsible for defeat of several party candidates in different Assembly and Lok Sabha segments.

Meanwhile, a 21-member team led by senior leader Narasingha Mishra has been constituted to ascertain the reason behind party’s poor show in the recently concluded polls.

Singh further informed that stern action will be taken against the leaders and workers who are responsible for the poll debacle and those who have worked the party will be rewarded.

According to TS Singh Deo the Congress’ vote share has slipped to 16 per cent and the party should first initiate concrete steps to increase it to at least 30 per cent.

“Getting vote share of 80 per cent is unrealistic and we should first focus on increasing the vote share to 30 per cent,” said Singh Deo adding that after the committee submits its report on the poll performance, required steps will be taken.

Senior Congress leader Bhakta Das stated, "BJP gained as Congress failed to function as a real opposition. All leaders are responsible for this"

PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said, "Dissolve PCC and constitute a new team with new and young members and start work immediately."