The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Monday appointed Jayadev Jena as the new Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, replacing Niranjan Patnaik, as part of its strategy to revive the party's image ahead of the upcoming polls due by 2014.
Jena, an AICC secretary, had earlier served as PCC chief of the state during 2003 to 2008. He is considered to be a grassroot politician with a clean image and is expected to attract voters from the Dalit community, who constitute about 17 per cent of the total population.
The state polls are slated for 2014 and the Congress has been out of power in the state for the last 15 years.
During his last visit to the state in February this year, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had indicated about change of PPC chief within three months.
In March, Odisha Youth Congress president Pradip Majhi was summoned to Delhi by Rahul Gandhi and was offered the PCC chief post. But Majhi, a first time MP from Nabarangpur, declined the offer.
Jena, an AICC secretary, had earlier served as PCC chief of the state during 2003 to 2008. He is considered to be a grassroot politician with a clean image and is expected to attract voters from the Dalit community, who constitute about 17 per cent of the total population.
The state polls are slated for 2014 and the Congress has been out of power in the state for the last 15 years.
During his last visit to the state in February this year, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had indicated about change of PPC chief within three months.
In March, Odisha Youth Congress president Pradip Majhi was summoned to Delhi by Rahul Gandhi and was offered the PCC chief post. But Majhi, a first time MP from Nabarangpur, declined the offer.
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