Bhubaneswar: The recent ‘Nabakalebara’ of the Congress’s state unit, aimed at silencing the anti-Harichandan faction in the party and giving the grand old party a united face ahead of 2019 polls, has not served much purpose.
At least a letter by former Union minister Srikant Jena to AICC members seeking a change in the preamble of the party’s manifesto has proved it. It says if voted to power the Congress would make a member from the OBC/SEBC or SC/ST community as its chief minister has ruffled many a feather in the party’s rank and file.
The overture is being seen as a tacit bid by the party’s manifesto committee head to preempt current PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik’s future bid to pit himself as the party’s CM candidate.
The raison-de-etre by Jena was that the proposed move will ensure equitable representation of all sections of society as they collectively constitute 92 per cent of the state’s population and will ensure rule of ‘Bahujan.’
Jena argued OBC and SEBC constitute 54 per cent of the state’s population while SC and ST account for 16 and 22.5 per cent respectively.
The letter has created angst among the restructured leadership with many believing that if the suggestions are carried out, it would deprive the current PCC chief the CM’s post even though the elections would be fought under his leadership.
The ‘oust-Harichandan’ and ‘bring Niranjan’ lobby in the Congress that succeeded in its bid has been disturbed by Jena’s letter. It has not only triggered a debate as to who would be the party’s CM and deputy CM/s, if it wins power in Odisha has also brought to the fore the festering rift in the party. “I don’t subscribe to it (Jena’s view),” said Congress leader Ganeswar Behera. “In Odisha, there is no cast consideration while selecting a CM candidate and it is the Congress’s high command that takes a final call on such issues,” Behera said.
While Jena couldn’t be reached for his comments, the OPCC chief said he is yet to go through Jena’s letter to AICC and OPCC members.
Sudarsan Maharana, OP