Bhubaneswar: Rahul Gandhi's coronation as the All-India Congress Committee president has increased likelihood of a change of guard in the Pradesh Congress Committee in 2018.
The fissure between the PCC and the Congress Legislature Party is an open secret and has affected party organisation throughout the state.
The MLAs, under the leadership of legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra, had met Rahul at least twice to seek the removal of PCC president Prasad Harichandan. They have been arguing since November 2016 that the party has been steadily losing ground under Harichandan's leadership.
Party sources said, however, that the change of guard would take place only after the Bijepur bypoll.
"We are fully concentrating on the Bijepur bypoll at this time. A change of leadership at this juncture will have an adverse effect. The leadership is taking its own time on this issue," said a close confidant of Harichandan.
However, the leaders are hopeful that the party will go to the general elections under a new leadership that can bring confidence in the party rank and file.
"Many questions marks have been raised over the present leadership. The party is almost in a dying state. It has been severely fractured. Now, the main objective is to find a new leader who can carry the entire party with him," said another leader.
While the MLAs insist that Niranjan Patnaik should take the lead as the new PCC chief, supporters of Prasad oppose his candidature on grounds that his family's alleged involvement in a mining scam would make it difficult for the Congress to stage a comeback under him. The Justice M.B. Shah Commission had inquired into the mining issue and the Supreme Court has already slapped heavy fines on one of Patnaik's brother's companies.
However, there are also question marks over the leadership mettle of former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das, another contender for the president's post.
"Das is unable to keep the party ahead of its rivals in his native Kalahandi. What can we expect from him in coastal districts?," asked a party leader.
