Factionalism may dent Congress prospects

BHUBANESWAR: Factional feud in the State Congress between party leadership and followers of former OPCC working president  Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra is likely to affect party’s preparations for urban body polls scheduled for 2013. The poll results will be crucial for the party. They will be a preview of the Assembly polls in 2014. Though the State leadership has announced that the party’s aim is now for the 2014 polls, factionalism, if it not nipped, will seriously undermine the party’s chances in urban body polls. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had given a stern warning to the party leaders during his recent visit to the State to shun dissidence and work united for the party to return to power. It’s not the BJD, but the Congress is defeating itself in the State, he told Congressmen while addressing them at the Congress Bhavan.  Several senior leaders of the State Congress feel that public show of factionalism will not help party’s revival in Odisha. Party meetings are the fora to air differences of opinion, a senior party leader said and added discipline should not be tolerated. Taking a serious view of such indiscipline, Odisha in-charge Jagdish Tytler issued warning letters to three MLAs __ Surendra Singhbhoi, Dushmanta Nayak and Shyamacharan Hansdah __ who had publicly demanded change of OPCC leadership. Another group of MLAs had also met several leaders in New Delhi and discussed organisational matters. But they later clarified that they did not demand organisational changes. Dissident activities in the State Congress are on the rise as there has been no improvement in the performance of the party. The party had suffered three defeats in Kendrapara municipality polls, byelection to Umerkote Assembly constituency and panchayat polls after the new leadership took over.  The party has, however, made efforts for revival by organising zonal meetings. Two zonal meetings in Cuttack and Berhampur have already been held. Party sources said six such meetings will be held, the next in Sambalpur. Steps are being taken to strengthen the party from the booth level by identifying at least three active leaders from every booth for organisational work.