In a sign of resolution of their differences on Tuesday, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan and senior party leader and leader of Opposition in the Assembly Narasingha Mishra and his team jointly finalised party candidates’ lists for the ensuing panchayat elections.
Claiming before the media that there is no factionalism in the party, both Harichandan and Mishra said the party is ready for the panchayat poll battle schedule to begin from February 13.
“We are united and will fight the panchayat elections united. The party Election Committee has given its nod on the block and district-level candidates’ lists. The final list will be released soon,” said Harichandan after chairing a PCC Election Committee meeting at the Congress Bhavan here.
Mishra, who is part of the committee, also ruled out any faction in the party and said the lists would be out in a day or two, most likely on Thursday.
Besides Mishra, Jeypore MlA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, former PCC president Naranjan Patnaik, who are opposed to the PCC leadership, attended the meeting.
Sources said the party would soon finalise the names of potential candidates for all 853 Zilla Parishad seats of the State.
Sources said AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi had summoned Harichandan and Mishra to Delhi and asked them to jointly work for victory of the party in the panchayat polls.