AICC in-charge Chella Kumar embarks on maiden visit to Odisha; holds discussion with senior leaders, MLAs

Bhubaneswar, October 7: The newly-appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) in charge A Chella Kumar has arrived here on his first visit to the state today and has started intensive discussion with senior party leaders as to how to steer the party and face the two upcoming by-elections after a month. The Congress Bhawan, the state party head quarter, has woken up to activities after arrival of the newly appointed AICC in charge today morning. "The party has several senior and experienced leaders. Then why it has not been able to come back to power since 2000", asked during discussion with the party leaders. Chella Kumar, whose appointment came last month in the wake of demand for change in the party leadership in the state following party's debacle in 2019 general elections and subsequent by-elections in Bijepur and Patkura assembly constituencies, is apparently concerned how to invigorate the demoralised cadres in the faction-ridden party. He held one-to-one meeting with senior leaders of the party the entire day. He is holding the meeting of the Congress MLAs today evening at the official residence of Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingh Mishra. The AICC in-charge is expected to gear up the party legislators, who voiced their protests over several burning issues during the recently-concluded monsoon session of the state assembly.   Party sources said Chella Kumar would be discussing about the nomination of party candidates for by-election  to Tirtol and Balasore assembly constituencies, scheduled to be held on November 3, during his six-day stay. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has already initiated steps to choose the party nominees for the two by-elections. The AICC in-charge is expected to give finishing touch to the nomination of the party candidates for the two by-polls and galvanise the demoralised party in the State. Tomorrow he is scheduled to address a worker's meeting at Biridi in Jagatsinghpur district.