Bhubaneswar: Following victories in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan by focusing on farmer issues, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has decided to give priority to farmers’ issue in its election manifesto 2019.
A meeting of the Manifesto Committee of OPCC was held here Monday in presence of party’s prospective candidates for the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies of the State.
“We will focus on resolving farmers’ issues initially. Secondly, we need to work towards generating jobs for unemployed youth in the state. Attention should be given to women safety and tribal and Dalits’ issues,” OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik told the media.
The Congress leader, who has failed to unite the Congress pariwar after taking charge as state president, is confident of forming the government in Odisha.
“We will win the elections and form the government in Odisha,” he said a day after CPI leader D Raja hinted at possible grand alliance for the upcoming polls. However, he did not predict the number of seats the party will win in the elections.
“We can’t say about the exact number we will get in the elections to form the government, but we will be voted to the power and will take the state on the path of development,” said Patnaik.
The Congress leader, in his Twitter handle, tweets about forming the next government in Odisha. “New government, Congress government…97 days to go. A new beginning in Odisha (sic),” he tweeted Monday.
When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming programme in the state, he said, “Our party president is scheduled to visit Odisha March 2. However, it is not confirmed whether he will visit Jeypore or Bargarh. He will attend only one public meeting in Odisha this time.” Gandhi’s scheduled programme February 27 was cancelled.