**Bhubaneswar:** While all the 23 District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents on Friday returned Odisha after their much-awaited meeting with AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon, they were all evasive on their allegiance to incumbent Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan.
Despite being asked repeatedly by media persons about the possibility of change of guard in the PCC, especially their lobby in support of present president Prasad Harichandan, as political rumour mill has been making rounds of a coup against him within the party, they claimed that the hour-long parley was solely on the ensuing Panchayat elections due in the State at the beginning of next year.
Soon after their arrival from Delhi at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here on the day, PCC treasurer and Cuttack City (District) Congress president Mohammed Moquim told media, “Revered Rahul Gandhi discussed with the DCC chiefs how Congress would fare well in the upcoming Panchayat polls in the State here. He also discussed how the party organisation needs to be strengthened. His strong message goes that no one is above the organisation. All DCCs and block level Congress units should fight unitedly under the leadership of PCC president Prasad Harichandan taking the people into confidence and working for the interests of the people. All the DCC chiefs discussed openly with Rahul Gandhi for over one hour and 40 minutes how to strengthen the organisation and also the problems of their respective areas. The discussion was fruitful. We’ve all resolved to work accordingly.”
When further asked that some Congress leaders here remarks that it was not for the Panchayat polls, but for protecting Prasad’s PCC post, Moquim replied, “In Congress party, the PCC, DCC and BCC chiefs always lead the party. Panchayat elections are ahead. How the organisation will fare well in the fray under the leadership of Prasad Harichan was discussed during the meeting with Rahul Gandhi.”