Amid Speculations, Odisha Cong Chief Says ‘Change Needed, Sooner The Better’

Bhubaneswar: Amid calls for a change of guard, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik on Thursday said “change is needed, sooner the better”.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Patnaik said, “Bad people spread only bad messages. Change of leadership is not a new thing. In Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), it is done every two-three years. Change is needed, sooner the better.”

Patnaik had resigned from the post in 2019 following the party’s debacle in the general elections. “AICC has not accepted my resignation letter till yet. Have no idea when the high command will take a final call in this regard,” he said.

Sources said a new OPCC chief is likely to be announced by the end of this month.

Senior Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati had recently raised the issue. “A new face should be appointed as PCC chief. An MLA should be appointed to the post, be it Suresh Routray, Mohammed Moquim or anyone else. We will welcome the move.”