“If Laloo, Nitish can unite, why can’t Odisha Congress?” asks Niranjan

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26:

If arch enemies Laloo Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar could unite and win elections, why can’t Odisha Congress do the same, wondered former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik today.

“If Laloo Yadav and Nitish Kumar, known as the north and south poles, could unite against the BJP and succeed, why can’t we Congressmen fight the corrupt Naveen Patnaik?” asked Patnaik in a press release issued a day after the by poll results in Bihar.

If the Congress leadership in the state rose above their narrow personal interests and take a resolve, the fate of the Congress party in the state would change in day, the senior Congress leader asserted.

“The party will emerge as a strong and united opposition force and earn the confidence of the lakhs of Congress workers and the people of the state who want a Naveen-free Odisha,” he said.

There are many capable people in the party, who can take up the leadership of the state Congress. But the responsibility of the state Congress should be given to a person who can take on Naveen Patnaik, Patnaik said.

“The administration in the state is in a complete shambles. Land, mine and chit fund thugs are ruling us. Naveen Patnaik’s claim of transparency is in tatters. His government is reeling under corruption and all kinds of scams. Despite having everything, we carry the ignominy of a poor state. In politics, opportunities do not come often. At such a time, Congress workers and leaders have to unite to build a powerful movement against the Naveen government,” the former PCC chief said urging Congressmen to make the party strong again.