AICC general secretary in charge of Orissa, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today exuded the optimism that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will return to power at the Centre in the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
This, he said, will be possible due to the implementation of various welfare programmes and the charismatic leadership of the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, experience of Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and youth leaders like Rahul Gandhi.“I am sure UPA will be able to form the government at the Centre very comfortably”, Azad said.
The performance of the UPA government in diverse sectors like road, electricity, infrastructure, poverty alleviation and social welfare programmes will keep the party ahead of the rivals, he added. Praising Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, Azad said, India has been least affected by the recent economic slowdown due to better management of the economy during the past 6 months.
Azad, who was here to attend the extended executive body meeting of the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), told the media that the election committee of the OPCC will be formed in next 3 to 4 days. The election committee will finalise the names of the candidates both for the Lok Sabha and state Assembly. Criticising the Orissa government for making minerals available at throw away prices to industry in past five years, the Congress leader said, the state would not have been dependent on the Central funds or imposition of additional taxes, if it would have sold the minerals of the state at market price. It could have also increased the revenue from the mining sector substantially.
He alleged that mines are given to industries at very cheap price instead of auction which has created a situation where the entire mineral reserve of the state will be finished in 25 years.
