The Congress would restructure all its organisations from booth to State level in 15 days, prepare a list of MlA candidates in coming two months and work vigorously to regain the trust and love of people of the State on a priority basis.
AICC Odisha-in-charge Jitendra Singh said this at a Press conference here on Sunday.
“While a consensus has been reached among all leaders to fight together for protection people’s interests, AICC president Rahul Ganhid has told us that he would come to Odisha once in a month, if required, in order to win people’s trust and love,” Singh said.
He said there has also been a broad consensus at the AICC and among the leaders in the State that the coming general elections would be fought under the leadership of new PCC president Niranjan Patnaik.
PCC chief Patnaik said his priority would be to strengthen the party at all levels from booth to the State in order to gain the people’s trust that has now been lost due to weaknesses in the party. He gave a slogan, “Congress Uthiba, Odisha Hasiba” (Congress will rise, Odisha will smile).
When asked about his party’s stand on the Mahanadi water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, Patnaik said both the BJP Government at the Centre and the BJD Government at the State have betrayed people of Odisha. “The Congress will fight for protection of Mahanadi water for people of Odisha soon,” he said.
He alleged that the State Government has failed to provide employment to youths, protection to women and support to farmers and Adivasi people during the last 18 years.
Among others, leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narsingha Mishra, Prof Kailash Acharya and Jagannath Patnaik were present.