Bickering weakens Congress
Unending intra-party bickering in the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee to become the state chief has seemingly cast its telling effect in the state unit of the party. Ever since the party lost to the ruling BJD in 2000 for the first time in the Assembly polls, it has not been able to rise from the ashes. The party’s strength reduced from 38 in 2004 to 27 2009 Assembly elections.
As it looks now, the party has little chance to improve its performance in the coming panchayat elections.
In 2000 and 2004, former chief minister J.B Patnaik, who was then facing the wrath of voters for the alleged increase in corruption in the state administration and atrocities against women, was entrusted the responsibility of election management. This move by the Congress central leadership helped the regional BJD for a smooth sail.
In 2009, the central leadership of the Congress sent former Union minister K.P. Singhdeo to Orissa as the new PCC chief. Mr Singdeo failed steer the party in the polls to victory. As usual, a host of senior leaders are now out to campaign for removal of the present PCC chief Mr Singhdeo and installing a new face in his place. The campaigners have been strategically divided into several groups with each group proposing name of a J.B. Patnaik loyalist.
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Godavari floods kill 10 in AP
Hyderabad : As many as 10 people have died following floods in the Godavari in the past three days even as water level in the river continued to rise alarmingly, severely affecting normal life in nine districts, particularly Khammam and East Godavari districts, officials said on Sunday.
Eight deaths were reported in Warangal district while two were reported in Adilabad district, a senior official of the disaster management department said.
Standing crop in over 30,000 hectares was damaged besides 271 cattle deaths were reported following heavy rains and floods, he said.
Due to incessant rains in catchment areas in Maharashtra, water level in the Godavari river continued to rise at several places in Andhra Pradesh resulting in damage to 1,631 irrigation sources and 60 roads, officials said. As the water level rose in the Godavari at temple town Bhadrachalam in Khammam district to 59.7 feet, its tributaries and rivulets overflew in down-stream areas causing damage to standing crop and properties.Meanwhile, revenue officials have issued third warning as water-level crossed the danger level of 53 feet at Bhadrachalam. A second warning was issued at Davaleswarm barrage in East Godavari district where water-level touched 16.15 ft as against the danger level of 17.15 ft. —PTI
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