Cuttack, Odisha:
Multi-factional Congress in Odisha is having a unique experience in Cuttack district where the grand old party is projecting a unified face.
The new-found cohesiveness in the party is determined to give the ruling BJD candidates in all the constituencies of the district a run for their money.
"This has been possible more because of the effort put in by the party candidate for Cuttack Lok Sabha seat Aparajita Mohanty, a popular cine star, who had been entertaining the filmgoers of the State for last 30 years," said an old guard of the grand old party.
The cine star has been able to bring even the sworn enemies OPCC general secretary Suresh Mohapatra and Cuttack city Congress president Muhammed Moqim together.
"Being an ardent Congress sympathiser all these days, I was at pains to see the debacle of the party. Now, I am making a humble attempt to bring all factions of Congress party together and revive its old glory", Ms Mohanty said.
With the nomination papers of BJD, BJP and Congress candidates found valid during scrutiny on Thursday and they are unlikely to withdraw from the race, a triangular contest is in offing for the prestigious Cuttack Lok Sabha seat in next month's election.
Hoping that her fans would rally behind her new avatar, cine star Aparajita Mohanty of Congress is determined to give the sitting MP Bhartruhari Mahatab of BJD a run for his money.
Mr Mahatab, editor-turned-politician had been returning to Lok Sabha from this constituency for last four consecutive terms, is again banking on the charisma of his party boss and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and is very confident that Cuttack voters would once again repose faith on him.