Odisha Congress forms new team ahead of local polls

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee has constituted a new team comprising leaders from different categories to strengthen its base in the State for the panchayat elections to be held next year, a party leader said. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) formed a 29-member political affairs committee headed by Lalji Desai, the AICC in-charge for Odisha. Besides Desai, the committee includes senior Odisha Congress leaders Bhakta Charan Das, Ramachandra Kadam, former chief minister Giridhar Gamang, Niranjan Patnaik, Jaydev Jena, Sarat Pattanayak, Prasad Harichandan, MP Saptagiri Shankar Ulaka, Rama Chandra Khuntia, Narasingha Mishra and ex-Union minister Srikant Jena. The chiefs of the party's different wings—student, youth, women, Seva Dal and AICCC secretaries—are ex officio members of the panel. The party has also formed a 71-member executive committee and 40-member advisory committee. Additionally, 15 senior leaders were appointed as vice-presidents, 57 others as general secretaries, and 72 leaders as secretaries. To unite the party, the State president has appealed to all leaders to work for the party irrespective of position or post. 'I request all leaders not to react to the posts and positions offered in the new team. You all should work together to strengthen the party and work for the people without creating any groupism,' OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das said in a video message. Considering their potential, leaders were given different responsibilities within the party. This was done with an eye on the upcoming panchayat elections in the State, he said. The OPCC chief said that a few more leaders will be added to the team in the coming days. 'Our party is fully prepared for the panchayat election. The party has taken all category leaders, including dalits, tribals, women, youths and senior leaders in the new team so that we will perform better in the panchayat polls and also win maximum seats,' senior Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja told reporters here. OPCCBhakta Charan DasLalji DesaiOdisha Panchayat ElectionsCongress Party