Rahul Gandhi to visit Odisha next month

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Aug 13: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is slated to visit Odisha next month to take part in padyatras to be organised by the party to highlight the plight of the farmers and various other issues.The Congress vice-president will come on a two-day visit in September, according to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan.Even as Gandhi’s visit will be part of his nationwide Kisan padyatra that he is undertaking to highlight the plight of farmers, OPCC, part from drawing attention to the farmers’ problems will also highlight the issue of law and order in the State.Gandhi’s visit is likely to give the much-needed boost to Odisha Congress at a time when Harichandan was leaving no stone unturned to strengthen the party at all levels.The newly-constituted executive committee of OPCC which met here on Wednesday evening has decided to take a series of measures to strengthen the party organisation in every Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency.As many as 21 general secretaries of the OPCC will soon be given the charge of the Lok Sabha seats.They will be supported by secretaries of OPCC and District Congress Committee presidents.After Gandhi’s padyatra, OPCC will organise padyatras on different issues across the State in different phases taking two to three districts at a time, said Harichandan.Apart from reconstituting Block level committees of the party, Congress will also go for a membership drive in an effort to reach out to the masses.The party aims to play a vital role as the main opposition and take measures to emerge as the lone alternative to the ruling BJD in the coming days with a view to perform well in the panchayat elections in the State in 2017.Harichandan has draw up plans to highlight the corruption and scams that have come to light under the BJD rule to win people’s confidence.The party would expose how Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been befooling people for years together by making false promises, Harichandan said.Congress will maintain equal distance from the BJD that has been protecting the corrupt and encouraging corruption at various levels and the BJP which has been encouraging communalism to provide an ideal alternative to the people of Odisha, according to a resolution taken at the extended executive of the party here on Wednesday evening.