The infighting in the Congress State unit again came to limelight as the demand for a change in guard in the PCC leadership was reiterated on Tuesday.
Congress Chief Whip in State Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who is in New Delhi along with five other party MlAs in connection with the Presidential election, on the day met senior Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad and demanded removal of Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan.
Bahinpati told reporters, “We demanded a total overhaul in the party organisation for its revival in the State so that it can come to power again. Also, the programmes for the poor implemented by the erstqhile UPA Government should reach the masses.”
Earlier, the MlAs had decided to meet AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to apprise him about the state of affairs of the State party unit and demand change in the party leadership, but as Gandhi is abroad, they are trying to meet the party’s other national leaders to reiterate the demand.
A section in the party is of the opinion that the Congress has become weak in Odisha as many leaders and workers have started quitting the party. To revive the party, a change of guard is necessary. To infuse life back into the party, it is important to change PCC president Harichandan and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad.