Targeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his administrative ‘failures’ during the last 17 years of his rule, the State Congress on Friday released its panchayat poll manifesto making five major promises to woo voters towards the party in the forthcoming rural elections.
Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan released the manifesto at the Congress Bhavan here which promised development of gram panchayats and rural people, development of villages, social security for deserving people and empowerment of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Focus on agriculture, development of SC/ST communities also featured in the manifesto.
“The Congress will work towards panchayat empowerment and development of villages and rural people. Our prime focus is development at the grassroots level, and we are committed for this,” Harichandan asserted.
The party too promises that it would work for development of agriculture and farmers and SC and ST people if Congress-supported candidates and Congress Zilla Parishad (ZP) candidates are voted to power.
“We urge people to vote for Congress ZP candidates and also other party-supported aspirants,” said Harichandan after releasing the manifesto.
Meanwhile, the Congress, the main opposition force in the State, started its full-fledged campaigning on the day.