Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has given three mantras to his party leaders in Odisha before winding up his two-day visit to the State on Monday.He whispered the mantra to the Pradesh Congress Committee members at a meeting here.
The three mantras to defeat the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Party (BJD) in the elections are: Remain united whatever the situation may be and take the BJD Government’s failures to people; Don’t dare to breach discipline in the party; and Continue fight till end and do not demand change of PCC leadership.
Gandhi said this after apparently realising that the Congress has all potential to defeat the BJD but for the lack of unity in its ranks. He urged the party’s rank and file to remain united if they sincerely want to defeat the BJD Government.
While talking about the reason behind the Congress’ consecutive electoral failures, he said it is only the party was to be blamed for its failure in the State. “It is not that the Congress is being defeated by the BJD, but the Congress itself is responsible for its failure. The party is losing the elections due to lack of unity in its rank and file,” he rued.
“Rahulji has told us to maintain discipline in the party and that stringent action will be taken against anyone, however big the leader may be, if he is found to be undisciplined,” said former Minister Suresh Kumar Routray.
Gandhi also categorically said there would be no change of guard in the PCC before the ensuing elections, Routray said, adding that all were told to work hard for the polls. Rajya Sabha member Rama Chandra Khuntia said Gandhi told the party’s block and district-level leaders to highlight the welfare schemes of the UPA Government and “ensure that the Congress’
message reaches every house in the State.”