KP Singh Deo appointed as Orissa PCC president

The All India Congress Committee on Tuesday announced the name of former Union minister K P Singh Deo as the President of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). He replaced Jayadev Jena, who resigned from the post on Saturday.

The State Congress unit was going through a gruelling phase ahead of the Lok Sabha elections after the resignation of former chief minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik as the leader of Congress Legislature Party, and then Jena from PCC president.

Viewing the BJD-BJP coalition’s eye for a third term, the Congress High Command was in favour of a leadership change. The party has also appointed three Working Presidents: Chandrasekhar Sahu, L B Mahapatra and Bhakta Charan Das to assist Deo.

In addition, another senior leader Srikant Jena will be leading the campaigning committee in the upcoming assembly and parliamentary polls.

It is believed that the Congress central leadership gave preference to KP Singh Deo’s experience and political stature in leading the state unit over others. Deo, who won his first parliamentary seat in 1967 from the Dhenkanal district, has the distinction of being six-time MP from his constituency.

Earlier on Saturday, Rama Chandra Ulaka had been selected to head the State Congress Legislature Party. Ulaka’s selection came as a surprise to many, but being representing tribal community from Rayagada district went in favour of him.