All Party Meeting Exposes Rift In Odisha Congress

Bhubaneswar: It seems all is not well within the Odisha unit of Congress party. The absence of many Congress leaders including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan at an all-party meeting has snowballed into a controversy.

The all-party meeting was convened by Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra to protect the interest of Odisha on Mahanadi water issue. However, several Congress leaders who skipped the all-party meeting said it did not have the approval of AICC.

Former Union minister Srikant Jena stated that they were not invited to the meeting. He also said the meeting has no meaning as the Congress party vowed to fight against BJP and BJD over the Mahanadi water issue.

Party chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati asked senior Congress leaders who have been critical of the meeting to stay away from the party.

Senior Congress leader Niranjan  Patnaik said those who did not attend the meeting are not concerned about the party affairs in the state.

Patnaik’s remarks were not taken lightly by some of his colleagues including Harichandan who had skipped the meet.

Reacting to criticism by some leaders, Bahinipati said, “Critical remarks of senior leaders against the all-party meeting will harm the party and such leaders should distant themselves from the party.”

Besides, speculation is rife about a possible rift between the leader of opposition and PCC president.

“There shouldn’t be a debate on the absence of a few in the meeting. We should focus on fighting for the state’s rights. There is no discord within the party over the issue, and all of us are united,” said Harichandan.