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
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