BHUBANESWAR: Ending his silence, president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan today hit out at the leaders who recently quit the party and said that it will have no impact even as exodus from the grand old party continued.
Harichandan, who along with others leaders sat on a fast in front of the Congress Bhavan here as part of the party's nation wide programme to protest against violence during Bharat Bandh by dalit outfits on April 2, told mediapersons that those who are leaving the party for personal gains will get a befitting reply from the people. “Congress was strong and remain so in future,” he said. Comparing Congress to the mythical bird phoenix which rises from its own ashes, Harichandan said the party will have 'Nabakalebar' (a new look).
The statement of OPCC president assumes significance in view of the continuing demand for his ouster from the post after the humiliating defeat of Congress in the panchayat polls. The demand for a change in the state Congress leadership has intensified after the party's defeat in the by-poll to the Bijepur assembly constituency.
Former union minister Chandrasekhar Sahu along with 50 senior Congress leaders had resigned from the party on April 4 alleging growing indiscipline in the party. Sahu along with other leaders had joined BJD in the presence of chief minister Naveen Patnaik at Berhampur on April 5.
Ollywood actor Bijay Mohanty and several other leaders from different parts of the state had also resigned from the party recently.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Congress and BJP activists from Kendrapara district joined BJD today in the presence of party president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Nivas. The Congress and BJP leaders came in a rally to the Naveen Nivas and joined BJD at the ‘Mishran Samavesh’ organised for the purpose. “I believe the joining of these leaders will strengthen the party organisation in the district,” Naveen said.