BHUBANESWAR: President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Prasad Harichandan today said
that the next panchayat elections will witness a fight between the power of 'black money' and a determined Congress.
Alleging that the BJD and BJP are thriving on black money, Harichandan said two political parties will use money power to buy votes in the ensuing panchayat polls.
Speaking on the occasion of 131st foundation day of Congress, the PCC chief said money power will not work this time as the people of the state are aware of the game plans of the BJD and BJP.
While the BJD and BJP are engaged in mock fights here, they work in tandem at the Centre. This is no more a secrete to the people who are left with only one option in Congress, he added.
The Congress has no money power, but the party will fight the election with renewed vigour as the morals of the party workers are very high.
The PCC chief said that that the party will give more emphasis on youths, women, dalits and tribals in the ensuing polls to the three-tier panchayati raj institutions.
Reacting to Harichandan's charges, BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty said the Congress which was in power at the Centre from 2004 to 2014 was synonymous with corruption for which it was rejected
by the people.
The demonetisation move of Narendra Modi has unnerved the Congress which is making wild allegations against the BJP. It the Congress is so honest it should have supported demonetisation, he added.
Spokesperson of the ruling BJD Samir Dash said that the Congress has accepted its defeat ahead of the panchayat elections. Time and again the people of the state have been given their verdict and this time there will be no different.