You are the working president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) and are also in charge of the coastal belt. What is the condition of you party in the state?

The party was in a bad shape in the coastal belt three months ago. But the situation has changed now. Barring a few constituencies, we have a strong base almost everywhere. Because of weak leadership, we could not perform well in the panchayat elections. After Niranjan Patnaik has taken over the leadership of the party, we have drastically improved our base at the grassroots. We hope to do well in 2019 general elections. The number of party MLAs in the coastal belt is just four at present. But you will see the number going up in the next elections.

Following the Prime Minister’s recent meeting at Cuttack, the BJP is more focused on the coastal belt and is making efforts to emerge as the principal Opposition party in the region... 

Their leaders are aware that they are unable to penetrate into the coastal belt. They are trying their best to make inroads, but I know they will not be successful as they don’t have the necessary mechanism to penetrate into the area. 

How are you so confident of the Congress bouncing back?

The people had rejected us in the past as we had made some mistakes. We are now trying to rectify the mistakes. We had lost touch with people, so we could not gain their confidence. Our leaders lost touch with the common man. We are analysing everything, including the results of Bijepur bypoll in which our candidate had forfeited his deposit. We are ashamed of our performance there. We could not win the confidence of the people to emerge as a viable alternative to the BJD. But slowly that perception is changing with Niranjan in an aggressive mode.

Question marks are also being raised abut the image of Niranjan Patnaik as he hails from a family of mine owners. The BJD had made corruption in the mining sector an issue in 2004 and 2009 elections and gained a lot. Given this backdrop, do you think that the Congress can bounce back? 

BJD’s stand on the mining issue is no more relevant. It has inducted a leader from the same mining family and made him a Rajya Sabha member. Of course, Niranjan babu has a mining business but that’s not a crime. Niranjan babu has been in politics for more than 50 years and has been a minister several times. So, mining issue is no more relevant in Odisha 
politics.

Has internal squabbling in your party come to an end with the change in the leadership?

This is a big national party. Difference of opinion in some cases is obvious. However, the leadership carries everyone with it. A lot depends on the quality of leadership and the direction it gives. Difference of opinion is there in all parties, be it the BJD or the BJP or Congress. But that does not mean that our party is divided. But when the party takes a decision, all back it solidly.

Former state Congress president Prasad Harichandan is not much visible in party programmes these days and is not even attending OPCC meetings…

For the last two and a half years, he was not able to give much time to his constituency as he was preoccupied with so many organisational works. Now with the change of guard, he is finding more time for his constituency. 
There is no other reason for him not attending party meetings.

The BJD is quite confident of returning to power. The BJP has launched a 120+ mission. What about the Congress?

Compared to the last election, our results will certainly be better this time. As I am not an astrologer, I cannot predict the number of seats the party will win. But at the same time, I can say that we will put up a good show.

Suppose a Karnataka like situation emerges in the state, will your party support the BJD in forming government to keep BJP out of power? 

Let such a situation arise. We will cross the bridge when it comes. We are yet to reach the bridge … so there is no need to think about it at this juncture. But let me tell you that the Congress will do well and try to win majority on its own strength.

But in principle, do you find the BJD to be closer to the Congress…

There is a clear instruction from our leadership to maintain equidistance from both the BJD and the BJP. We will not make any alliance with anyone. We will fight against both of them.

But, if an alliance is required after the election?

The Congress leadership at the Centre will take a call. 

Do you have enough time to organise the party?

Yes, we have sufficient time to galvanise the party. In the last two months, the party has become aggressive and is taking stands on all important issues.

Naveen Patnaik government is perceived to be a corruption-free government. But, people still have a perception that the Congress was corrupt...

We have not been in the government for the last 18 years. Whether you are corrupt or not can be known only when you are in government. I don’t want to comment on whether Congress was corrupt or not when it was in power. But if you say there is no corruption in politics, just make a survey of election expenditure. What was the election expenditure of parties in 2000 and what kind of money BJD MLAs spent in 2014. Where did the money come from? The amount of money that is being spent today in panchayat elections or in urban polls would have been unthinkable in the past. People know everything and they will give a fitting reply at the right time

Don’t you think that Congress has failed to raise the Mahanadi issue properly?

In 2004, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said there would be no impact on Odisha even if Chhattisgarh government built a number of barrages on Mahanadi. The government remained silent till 2015. Both the Centre and Odisha government and their respective parties have to own responsibility in Mahanadi case. The problem cannot be solved only by organising rallies. As a party, we are doing our best to save Mahanadi. Even the leader of Opposition had called an all-party meeting on the issue.

Then why did not the OPCC back the Leader of Opposition?

The OPCC did not oppose our stand on the Mahanadi issue but it did not want the BJP to be part of the all-party meet. Congress raised the issue repeatedly and we will continue to do it. Mahanadi is the lifeline of Odisha. Why did not the state government build barrages on the river?  

There is a demand that a big barrage on the river should come up at Manibhadra …

We should construct small barrages so that the people are not displaced. On the Manibhadra issue, we will take a decision when the time comes. If it does not hamper the interest of the people, there should be no problem in constructing the barrage at Manibhadra. But I cannot make a definite comment right now…

Your are the son of Basant Biswal, a former deputy chief minister. Has that helped you in politics?

Certainly. My father was a stalwart in Congress politics. Being his son has helped me a lot. He had relations with so many people. It gave me opportunities and advantages.

Your younger brother Ranjib Biswal is a well-known cricket administrator and politician. Has that helped you as well?

Definitely. He came into politics before me and was elected to Parliament at the age of 26. Being the brother of Ranjib Biswal certainly helped me.