‘United Congress to fight elections in State’

A united Congress in Odisha would fight the forthcoming general elections, observed PCC working president Naba Kishore Das while addressing party workers here on Friday.

Attending the meeting, Leader of Opposition in State Assembly Narasingha Mishra, Dilip Behera, Samrendra Mishra, Laxman Meher, Sarat Pattnaik, Santosh Singh Saluja, Radhakanta Panda, Surendra Singh Bhoi and Mustaq Ali from AICC recalled how development activities and programmes were undertaken during the Congress rule in Balangir district and at the State and national levels which are now absent.

Several speakers appreciated the steps taken by the Leader of Opposition to set up a medical college and undertake development activities in Balangir.

Narasingha Mishra called upon party workers to bury their differences and work united. He criticised the “anti-people” policies of the Modi Government at the Centre and the apathy of the State BJD Government to ensure development of Balangir and the State.

Former PCC president Sarat Pattnaik also lamented the snail’s pace of development work during the BJD rule in this region.

Naba Das said that with support  from party stalwarts like Sarat Pattnaik and Narasingha Mishra, a unied Congress would march ahead in Balangir.

“If the Congress comes to power, I will personally strive to develop educational and healthcare infrastructures in western Odisha. I will ensure setting up of a medical college at Jharsuguda. Besides, there will be a district-wise reservation of meritorious students in different medical colleges,” Das said.

The Congress would be strengthened at the grassroots level and the party would come to power in the next elections, he said.

Party leaders pointed out that PCC president Niranjan Patnaik has announced that farmers would get pension and farm loans would be waived if the Congress comes to power in the State.