High command summons PCC leaders; to seek answer on ULB poll debacle

OST Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Jan 13:

Concerned over the disastrous performance of the State Congress in the local body elections held recently in the state, the Congress high command has asked senior party leaders of Odisha to attend a meeting in New Delhi on January 17.

The meeting, to be presided over by the AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi, would deliberate on the reasons for the party’s miserable show in Odisha.

Sources in the party circles said the high command is disturbed by the poor leadership of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Jayadev Jena resulting in the poor show of the party in the civic body polls in the state.

The Central leaders, reportedly regretting the appointment of Jena, are in no mood to listen to his explanations and the AICC in-charge of state party affairs at the moment.

This precarious situation of the party has forced Rahul Gandhi to cancel his visit to the state.

The sources said that 67 members of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), including its president and leader of the Opposition, have been asked to attend the meeting.

The meeting would be followed by a marathon discussion between Rahul Gandhi and the PCC members about the party’s poll debacle.

This apart, the performance of the state party leadership would also figure in the meeting.

The timing of the meeting would be decided after the AICC meeting, the sources informed.