By Our Correspondent in Koraput, January 28, 2015 ###

Newly appointed Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Prasad Harichandan on Wednesday called upon his party men to stop fighting among themselves for party positions. He beseeched them to work together to revive the party in the state.

Interacting with party leaders here, Mr Harichandan said party leaders needed to bury their differences to regain their foothold in the state politics.

“Today, we discussed ideas how to revitalize the party. We have done the introspection and have come up with some positive outcome. All sections of the party came up with ideas to strengthen the party further and take it to people. What you saw today was not dissatisfaction or dissent, instead it really was coming to terms with our weaknesses and vulnerabilities so that we can work together on getting them fixed,” Mr Harichandan told reporters after the party second brainstorming session [Chintan Shivir].

The party leaders have decided to work wholeheartedly without fighting among ourselves for positions. Both leaders and workers are excited about the changes happening in the party, he informed.

The Chintan Shivir was also attended by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Odisha B.K. Hariprasad and his deputy Subhankar Sarkar.

“We have no dearth of supporters for the Congress party. However, we need to reach them at booth level to convert this ground support to electoral success. However, we do not reach them due to our hi-fi (high flying) attitude resulting in losses,” said local Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

Senior leader Bhakta Das emphasised that party men were all together and working with the new president to get the party back to its golden days.

“The PCC has always been giving significant importance to Koraput District Congress Committee.  We discussed ways to retain the traditional vote bank of Congress in the district and bring back the tribal vote bank, which has slipped away from us.  The PCC president is listening to the suggestions of all the leaders. We are discussing the issues and suggestions and wait for his decisions on organisational changes and other issues,” said former Nabarangpur Lok Sabha member Pradeep Majhi.