Odisha Congress restructuring likely after Gujarat polls

Restructuring of State Congress is not likely at least before the last week of December as party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be busy with Gujarat polls.

BHUBANESWAR: Restructuring of State Congress is not likely at least before the last week of December as party vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be busy with Gujarat polls. The Gujarat polls, to be over on December 18, will keep all the senior leaders of the party busy.

The delay in the restructuring of the State unit has, however, deepened the intra party factionalism with a section including a majority of party legislators keeping themselves away from all party programmes.
The state of affairs has deteriorated to such an extent that the party could not present an united face even on such important issues, including gang-rape of a minor in Kunduli village and suicide by farmers due to crop loss in pest attack.

Sources said the party will fight the by-poll to Bijepur Assembly constituency under the existing leadership. Though the BJD and BJP have concentrated in streamlining the organisations in Bijepur segment, Congress leadership is yet to make any worthwhile attempt in this regard except holding a public meeting, not attended by most of the senior leaders.
The demand for a change in the State leadership had intensified after the panchayat polls in February in which Congress slipped to third place behind BJP.

Though the State leaders, including legislators, met senior National leaders at New Delhi several times including Rahul Gandhi to discuss the matter, the restructuring is yet to take place giving rise to resentment among a majority of party leaders and workers.

Gandhi had met 35 State leaders including Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Narasingh Mishra, legislators, former MPs, former MLAs and several senior leaders on September 5 to discuss restructuring of the State unit, including removal of president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee Prasad Harichandan to resurrect the party and energise the cadre. The meeting was convened based on the report of a three-member committee constituted by party president Sonia Gandhi in July to assess the political situation in Odisha. Though the change was expected soon, the delay has sparked off resentment among the rank and file of the party.

Though BJP and BJD have concentrated on streamlining organisations at Bijepur, Congress leadership is yet to make any worthwhile attempt in this regard except holding a public meeting, not attended by most of the senior leaders

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The New Indian Express
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