State Congress circles expect a change of leadership in next few days. AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who was earlier not so serious about affairs of the party in Odisha recently devoted a whole day lending a patient ear to many senior leaders who called on him and discussed in detail about reviving the party in the State..
Both Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan and AICC general secretary in charge of the State BK Hariprasad seem to be on their way out.
Sources familiar with the development says while party veteran Niranjan Patnaik is emerging as frontrunner for the OPCC president post, either Kishore Chandra Deb or Mukul Wasnik may be given the responsibility of Odisha.
Even as names of Bhakta Charan Das, Chiranjib Biswal and Naba Kishore Das cropped up during the deliberations, more than 90 per cent of those who discussed party affairs with Gandhi opined in favour of Niranjan Patnaik, who, they said, has the wherewithal and a pan-Odisha image to lead the party in this crucial juncture.
While State Congress leaders wait for Rahul Gandhi’s decision, many feel a role of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik in this exercise would be vital. Two former PCC chiefs Jaydev Jena and Niranjan Patnaik have already gone on record saying Naveen Patnaik used his influence over the Congress high command to dislodge them from the OPCC president post earlier.
It is not a secret that Naveen Patnaik has had a very special and personal relationship with Sonia Gandhi from good old days even before Rajiv Gandhi had joined politics.
The State BJP has been alleging that Naveen Patnaik’s bonhomie with the Congress saved his Government in 2008 when the BJD-BJP coalition broke up. Many political observers feel that against the backdrop of a BJP surge in the State, Naveen Patnaik would like the Congress to get stronger ahead of the 2019 general polls.
If the Congress keeps its votes intact fighting the BJP’s inroad, the opposition votes would be divided leading to a comfortable victory for the BJD.