Odisha Congress upbeat after overtures from CPI
Our key focus is on the development for which the farmers' issues need to be addressed initially, said Mr Patnaik.
Bhubaneswar: A day after CPI leader D. Raja hinted at possible grand alliance for the upcoming polls, the Congress appeared confident of forming the government in Odisha.
“We will win the elections and form the government in Odisha,” OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik told the media on Monday after state unit of Congress’ manifesto committee meeting here in Bhubaneswar.
However, he did not predict the number of seats the party would 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 Mr Patnaik.
“Our key focus is on the development for which the farmers’ issues need to be addressed initially. Secondly, we need to work towards generating jobs for unemployed youth in the state. Attention should be laid on the safety of women and tribal and Dalits’ issues,” he said.
When asked about Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming programme in the state, Mr Patnaik said that the AICC chief will visit Odisha again on March 2, but it was not confirmed whether he will visit Jeypore or Bargarh.