Despite a new mantra fed into the State Congress leaders and functionaries by PCC chief Prasad Harichandan, ‘Mu nuhen Ame’ (Not I, We), to keep his flock together, the fissures in the State unit of the party, known for its long years of factionalism, seem to come to the fore. The recent Delhi visit of a chunk of MlAs and meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi has only made the speculation stronger.
The MlAs went to Delhi much the same way the State unit leaders used to make such visits in past, especially when they have a complaint against any top functionary. As a result, the current Delhi visit of the legislators was seen from the usual perspective of taking a grudge against somebody to the boss and seeking a change of guard. Further, when neither the MlAs consulted the PCC chief nor the leader of Opposition (loP) about such a meeting with Sonia deepened the doubt. To make the matter worse, a few leaders let out conflicting versions about the motives behind the Delhi visit.
Senior leader lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra especially gave an explosive statement that the visit could be to change Tara Prasad Bahinipati from the post of Opposition Chief Whip with whose style of functioning the legislators were not happy. Bahinipati also told media in a fiery reaction on the visit that he has good relation with the Central leadership and Gandhi family and that since he did not amass a fortune from mining, he did not move to Delhi unlike others. His temperament was giving enough indication of his disgust and anger over the development. Even a buzz went around that the meet with Gandhi duo could also be to vent frustration against the PCC chief and seek his replacement.
Prasad Harichandan, known for his noncontroversial nature and neutrality, was expected to put the much-needed balm in the schism of the State unit and help reinvigorate it. It was also expected that leaders of various factions in the party who do not look eye to eye would be taken into a single fold with Prasad at the helm of affairs. But it seems the hopes may be belied and that the same internal feud remains though it is no longer more pronounced.
leader of Opposition (loP) Narasingha Mishra, however, made an attempt to allay the apprehension about the development of internal dissent in the State unit. When a few leaders after their return to Odisha from Delhi met him, he as well as the other leaders termed it as courtesy call.