Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan today said he had informed the party high command about several organisational issues of the state unit during his meeting in New Delhi yesterday.
His visit to New Delhi comes in the backdrop of the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra's meeting AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi along with all 16 MLAs of the party apparently to press for the removal of Harichandan. During the meeting, Rahul had assured the MLAs that he would call Harichandan to New Delhi and discuss party affairs with him.
Harichandan today told newspersons: "I have informed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi about the party's preparedness for the upcoming panchayat poll." The poll is scheduled early next year.
The OPCC president, however, said: "We are all united and one family. The party will fight for the interest of the state."
Another source in the party said: "Rahul has told Harichandan clearly that he is not happy with the ongoing affairs in the state. He should take all into confidence while organising any event relating to the party."
Sources also said that though Rahul had made it clear that Harichandan would not be removed at this moment keeping the panchayat elections in mind, the party leadership would be forced to take a tough call after the rural polls if he failed to soothe the hurt feelings of the MLAs and other Congress leaders.
Harichandan today met the Odisha-in-charge of the party, B.K. Hariprasad, and discussed party affairs. Earlier, Rahul had also expressed his displeasure over the affairs of the state Congress and asked Hariprasad to set things right.
Though Hariprasad was scheduled to visit the state last week, his visit was cancelled at the last moment after he was informed that none of the MLAs would turn up to meet him and he would land in an embarrassing situation.
The difference between Harichandan and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra started growing after the latter had called an all-party meeting on August 3 on the Mahanadi river dispute. Harichandan did not endorse the meeting and called for an Odisha bandh on August 16.
After Mishra met Rahul, the latter had assured the CLP leader that the party would look into their complaints against Harichandan. The MLAs, who were said to be unhappy with Rahul's stand had also sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. They also met her aide V. George and senior leader Ahmed Patel to air their grievances. After his meeting with Rahul, Mishra told reporters in New Delhi that "all things were discussed", and refused to divulge the details.
Congress leaders refrained from making any comments on this issue. But party leader Suresh Routray, who is also the father-in-law of Harichandan, today said: "The party will face the panchayat elections as well as the general election in 2019 under the leadership of Harichandan."
He further hinted that former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik was making "backdoor efforts" to dislodge Harichandan. "Niranjan is like the Narada (the mythological character who loves to create strife among gods and demons)," he said.
Reacting to this, Patnaik said: "Narada always speaks the truth for the betterment of the society."