Prasad Harichandan appointed OPCC president

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: Former Minister Prasad Harichandan has been appointed as the new president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).Prasad’s name was announced as the new OPPC president after it was given approval by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi today.Prasad succeeds Jayadev Jena who had offered to quit the post after the party’s dismal performance in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections held earlier this year.Prasad’s appointment as OPCC president comes at a time when the All-India Congress Committee is appointing young leaders to lead the party organizations in different State units of the party keeping an eye on the future polls.Prasad was born on the 12th of May, 1964 at Nanakera, a river deltaic village in Puri district of coastal Odisha.He comes from a farmer’s family.His father, Fakir Harichandan participated in freedom struggle as a young student.Prasad grew up in an environment that instilled in him moral values, empathy and generosity and spirit of social service.He acquired a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Post Graduate Teaching Department of Political Science of Utkal University, Bhubaneswar.In 1984, Prasad began his political career in the Congress Party as an activist of NSUI, the frontal organization for students, where he became the General Secretary of its state unit in 1985.He was appointed as the National Joint Secretary of NSUI and subsequently, elevated to the post of General Secretary.From NSUI, Prasad went over to Youth Congress in 1996.He was appointed as the National General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress in 1997 and was given the charge of sensitive North Eastern states.Prasad entered mainstream politics in 1990.He was pitted as the Congress candidate against Biju Patnaik, the political colossus by late Rajiv Gandhiji from prestigious Bhubaneswar constituency in the General Election to Orissa Legislative Assembly in 1990.Prasad moved to his native Satyabadi Assembly Constituency and was elected as one of the youngest MLAs.He was made the youngest Minister of State in 1999 and held Home, Science, Technology and Culture departments.During his short stint as a Minister, he took personal initiative to establish Institute of Mathematics and Application and Utkal University of Culture.He introduced community policing in the state and demonstrated determination to go after crime.In 2000, Prasad repeated his success for the second time in a row and returned to the Twelfth Orissa Legislative Assembly.The Orissa Legislative Assembly honoured him with first ever Best MLA Award in the year 2002.Prasad Harichandan was appointed as the president of Puri District Congress Committee in 1997 and continued as such until he was inducted as a Minister of State in 1999.Prasad Harichandan was the Chief Spokesperson of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee from 2004 to 2006.He has been the General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee since 2006.He is also an elected Member of All India Congress Committee.He was among three Congress MLAs of coastal Odisha who won election in 2009 and the only Congress MLA of coastal Odisha who defeated ruling BJD candidate.Prasad is a popular public face of Congress in Odisha.A suave and articulate politician, he is regarded as a youthful and energetic mass leader with innovative thoughts.Prasad received many awards and earned honours for his outstanding legislative performance and public service activities.To name a few, he was conferred on Rajib Gandhi Sadvabana Award, 2010, Chintamani Panigrahy Memorial Award, 2010 and R.N.Singh Deo Centenary Award, 2011 as the Best Legislator.Many Congress leaders visited his residence near Rajmahal Square of the Capital city soon after the news spread about his appointment as the new OPPC president.