Interview of Odisha Congress chief Prasad Harichandan

My crown of thorns to turn a Cong crowned with glory: Prasad

Me with PCC president Prasad Harichandan

He is a rare figure in the State Congress having no factional leaning. He is also one of the few sane voices in the party like Leader of Opposition in Assembly Narasingha Mishra. No wonder, Prasad Harichandan’s nomination as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president by the party high command has been widely hailed in the State organisation. A comparatively young leader, he is viewed as the one who can inspire the youths in the party and breathe vibration into the organisation. He talked to Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer in an interview on Thursday.

From a boy of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das’ land of Satyabadi to become Odisha chief of a national party, how do you feel?

A boy feels blessed who is born in the land of Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das. I feel humbled by the assignment given by my esteemed leader Cong president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Don’t you feel that you are donning a crown of thorns given the present state of affairs in the party?

The crown of thorns is a reminder of two things: It is exceedingly painful; and it goes with sufferings. If it is set on my head, I’m willing to endure the pain and shall bear the sufferings. Ultimately, the Congress will be crowned with glory, honour and victory.

It is a long perception that your party has several groups working in their ways. Can you end factionalism in your party?

In any democratic party, you find plurality with regard to any political proposition. But if this turns to division of opinions then the wall of factionalism is ‘raised’. We will moderate such differences to minimal possible level so that the wall of factionalism is ‘razed’. Of course, it’s a daunting business, but we shall try to do it.

After the party’s serial electoral defeats, confidence of Congress workers is on the wane. How can you revive the party and what is your plan to instil confidence among party workers?

True, the four successive defeats have demotivated the party cadres. The vote share of the party has dropped. We have to recharge our cadres, utilise their potentials, exploit the advantages in favour of the party and, thus, chart out a way forward aiming at winning the 2019 elections. For this, we will rebuild the party structure from the grassroots, design a clear and coherent strategy to revive the party. We shall present a vision for the State to fulfil people’s aspirations. We have to identify issues which will persuade people and make them feel that our party is with them in their time of need.

(Takes a pause)

Now, a structured organisation has to be rebuilt with emphasis at the booth level. The continuing membership drive will be widespread bringing youth, women, dalits, tribals, farmers and others in the State into our party fold. We will come out and hit the street to make the people understand about the State Government’s misdeeds, scams. We will organise the party workers and come out on the streets across the State as it will show us road of change. The party, which will be geared up for the Panchayati Raj elections in 2017, will make a roadmap for the party’s success.

Do you feel the seniors who didn’t get the coveted PCC chief post will sincerely work under you?

There are very senior and eminent leaders in the party who are way ahead of me in all respects. They are our guides, mentors and philosophers. Rather, I’ll work with them. Rather, they will allow me to work with them. In an organisation, more in a grand old party like Congress, it is imperative to bridge the widening generational gap. We will bring young and elder leaders together. The senior leaders will guide to design programmes and strategies and the young cadres and leaders will make it happen.

How do you see the BJD Government’s performance?

The years of the BJD rule is full with huge performance deficit, massive governance failures, mega scams and major scandals and scores of unmet aspirations. The Government is excessively bureaucratised and ineffective and there has hardly been a visible impetus to developmental activists. Ruling the State for almost 15 years, BJD has caused only miseries for its 4.2 crore people by its misgovernance.

Yes, the Government has received rims of spaces in print media and uncountable timeslots in electronic media for its ‘best performances’ in chit fund scam, mining scam and the very recent land and house allotment scam.

Now, farmers are waiting in the market yards for procurement of their paddy with a hope to get a good price for their produce, but the State has left the farmers’ fate in the hand of the millers. The situation of migrant labourers is horrible and the recent death of a man from Boudh stunned the State. If the State has done a good job then why farmers commit suicide every year and why people migrate to other States in search of work? Is there any proper answer to my questions with the State Government?

The interview was published in The Pioneer English daily on December 19, 2014