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People want change: Congress

Special Correspondent

Says it is sure of winning 80 p.c. of Zilla Parishad posts

Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

POLL TALK: Congress leader Narayan Swami with leader of opposition in Orissa Assembly J.B. Patnaik at a media conference in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday claimed that the party will win more than 80 per cent of Zilla Parishad seats in the coming panchayat polls.

At a press conference here, party's All-India general secretary V Narayansami and Leader of Opposition J.B. Patnaik said the party was getting encouraging response from different parts of the State.

Stating that the people in most parts of the State wanted a change, Mr. Patnaik expressed hope that the same will be reflected in the outcome of the polls.

"The Congress will win more than 80 of the Zilla Parishad seat despite the ruling Biju Janata Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party making use of the official machinery and the police to win over the people," Mr. Patnaik said.'

Law and order problem

Both Mr. Patnaik and Mr. Narayansami blamed the BJD and BJP for creating law and order problem in the coastal districts where candidates of both parties were fighting against each other.

The authorities should take immediate measures for conduct of free and fair poll, they demanded.

Replying to a query about infighting in the party, both the leaders said that there was no infighting in the Congress and all leaders of the party were campaigning in different areas seeking support for the party nominees.

"There is absolutely no infighting in the Congress. One must see how the BJD and BJP leaders are fighting among themselves in the wake of the panchayat polls," Mr. Patnaik observed.

The Congress leaders also accused Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik of instructing the Government officials to carry out his orders while campaigning in different areas.

The party had lodged a formal complaint with the State Election Commission about the Chief Minister issuing instructions to an officer at a public meeting in Kendrapara district, they said.

Alleging that the Election Commission was working in favour of the ruling alliance, Mr. Narayansami said that they would take up the matter with the Election Commission of India and the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry.

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