BHUBANESWAR: Former minister and senior leader Niranjan Patnaik has been appointed new president of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). He replaces former Union minister K P Singhdeo. Niranjan’s appointment comes after a wait of nearly a year for the partymen who wanted a change in the leadership to make the organisation vibrant. The former minister, whose support base cuts across different factions in the party, is expected to carry along all groups to launch a strong anti-Naveen Patnaik campaign in Orissa. Niranjan’s tenure will be full of challenges. He said he will visit all the districts and meet leaders and workers to find out what went wrong with the Congress and why the party was rejected thrice by the people. The first challenge before Niranjan will be the panchayat elections next year. Orissa in-charge of the party Jagdish Tytler said Niranjan is the best choice. Former Union minister and working president Chandrasekhar Sahu, who was also an aspirant for the top job, said Congress will be strengthened if everybody joins hands. Welcoming Niranjan’s appointment, Sahu said he is an experienced hand. The high command has taken all aspects into consideration before announcing Niranjan as the new State party chief, he said. Another aspirant, working president Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, also welcomed Niranjan’s appointment. The appointment of the new chief comes on eve of the announcement of the chargesheet against the Naveen Government by the party. A crucial meeting of the senior leaders of the party will be held on Wednesday at the Congress Bhavan here, which will be attended by Niranjan and Tytler. Besides finalising the chargesheet against the Government, the meeting will discuss the future course of action. Singhdeo, a reluctant OPCC president, had announced his intention not to continue in the top post nearly a year ago. “I am relaxed,” he said. Describing Niranjan as a senior leader, Singhdeo said the party will be strong under him.
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