Panchayat election is only three months away. But, BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has already gone ahead by launching his party's election campaign. The Congress seems to be nowhere in the picture...

Naveen babu has almost finished his election campaign, but at the cost of the government exchequer. He has even visited one place thrice for campaigning. He is doing all these things by spending public money.

During the fourth term of the BJD government, the Opposition got many scopes to raise its voice - right from the death of children because of malnutrition to the killing of innocent tribal people by policemen in Kandhamal. But, it seems that the Congress has failed to grab these opportunities...

Yes, I admit it. We have failed to target the Naveen Patnaik government. At the same time, I can say that though we have raised some issues, we have failed to put up a combined fight.

The way Naveen has taken the campaign seriously has put the Congress on a back foot. The Congress seems almost finished...

I don't think so. It is wrong to say that the Congress is finished. The Congress will do better... The common man is disgusted with the Naveen Patnaik government. The BJD's popular vote percentage will come down this time.

Nothing is going well in the Congress. A tussle is on between the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). They have had differences on the Mahanadi water sharing issue. It must be affecting the party's image at this moment...

I am aware of the tussle between the OPCC and the CLP. A wrong message has percolated to the grassroots and it is affecting the party. Now, time has come when we all should work unitedly to win the people's confidence. If we don't rise above petty interests at this moment, we may have to pay a price in future.

A hue and cry was made over Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra's all-party meeting on the Mahanadi issue. The Congress officially boycotted the meeting. Do you support Mishra's move?

I wholeheartedly supported the all-party meeting convened by the Opposition leader. What wrong did he commit? As the chief minister did not call the all-party meeting, the leader of Opposition took the initiative. I cannot comment on others' stand on the issue. Had I been the OPCC president, I would have certainly endorsed the all-party meeting. The meeting had been called in the interest of the state and its people. Those who opposed it and had tried to derail it have done wrong.

But some Congress leaders wondered how could they sit with the BJP in that meeting as their ideology differs from them..

This is all about the state's interests. When the question of state's interest comes up, no politics should be done. Politics should be kept behind when we talk of the Mahanadi issue. In other states, I have seen how the Congress and BJP leaders have joined hands to protect their states' interests. Even at the national level, the BJP and the Congress joined hands (to protect the national interest).

Recently senior leader Suresh Routray, father-in-law of OPCC president Prasad Harichandan, described you as the Narad (the mythological seer who triggers fight between gods and demons). It has created ripples in the state Congress...

People know the nature of Sura babu. He is a good friend of mine. He had made the statement in a lighter vein. I have not taken it seriously. Narad was a great sage and he had the ability to solve any problem. Had Narad not been there, many problems would not have been solved.

When Jaydev Jena was the OPCC president, you had raised your voice against his leadership. Now, you are opposing the present OPCC president. Why has it always been so?

This is a wrong perception. I never say anything bad about anyone even though I may have a difference of opinion with them. This is against my ethics. I never do this kind of politics. I do politics for the welfare of the state and benefit of the people. Recently, I met Jaydev babu and also discussed what could be done for the upcoming panchayat polls.

The OPCC under your leadership had worked quite well. You should have been given more time by the party high command to invigorate the Congress (Niranjan was changed abruptly). Don't you think so?

I had served my tenure. The tenure of the Congress president is not permanent. I had done my best to improve the condition of the party and the people. Higher authorities in the party would judge who is doing what.

Don't you think that quality leadership is missing in the Congress?

It is very difficult to define quality leadership. The OPCC president is trying his best to improve the Congress's performance. A leadership should be built up and we should give Prasad the chance.

Huge number of followers came to pay their tributes to Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra (Lulu), who died early this month. Do you think his death would have an impact on the future of Congress politics?

Lulu had been involved with the youths 1990 onwards. For the past 25 years, he worked for the cause of the youths and students. No other leader has been able to make such an impact on the youths. He had been able to energise the youths. So, his absence would certainly make an impact on the youth. It would be tough to fill the vacuum. It will take a long time to fill the void.

Unpleasant incidents were noticed when a group of supporters of Mohapatra barged into a hotel and manhandled Odisha in charge of Congress affairs B.K. Hariprasad (allegedly for the party's failure to give due respect to the late leader)...

The situation could have been avoided had we acted maturely as senior leaders. I don't support any move to show disrespect to any senior leader. At the same time, I can say that we should have acted more patiently. We should be more tolerant. Had Hariprasad shown sporting spirit, such things could have been avoided.

Following the incident, the Congress leadership has suspended two members of the student wing...

The suspension order should be withdrawn. They are our boys. They were emotional at that time as they had lost their guide. In the interest of the party, we should act judiciously. The youth leaders had already met the OPCC president and apologised for their conduct. The OPCC president had taken seven days' time. I hope the suspension order will be revoked shortly.

After Lulu's demise, his followers seem to have lost their guide. There is a feeling that you should take that space and lead them...

Though I have all good wishes for them. Age is not in my favour. I will not be able to give them the required time.

No senior leader from the AICC had come to pay their tributes when former chief minister J.B. Patnaik died and no one turned up to pay their respect to the late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra. Aren't you upset about it?

This is our internal affair. I cannot discuss this in public. But at the same time, I must say that we have committed many mistakes and this may be one of them.

The people are facing a lot of hardship because of demonetisation. But, the Congress has failed to take up the issue...

The party has already announced that it will hold a rally on this issue. Everyone agrees that action should be taken against black money. But, the Modi government should have exercised adequate caution before scrapping the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. At the same time, I just want to know whether Modi can give in writing as to from where he had brought money for his high-voltage campaign during the last election. From where did he get all the money? Was all this money white? People will accept you only if your practice is what you preach.

People have a perception that the demonetisation has hit you hard as you hail from a family which has mining interests...

I am no more involved in the mining business. I had left the business in 1981. By God's grace, those of my family members, who are in the mining business, are on the right path. We have no black money. But, if the people have that perception, what can I do?