New political party "Samruddha Odisha" launched

Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (UNI) A former IAS officer today announced launching of a new political party 'Samruddha Odisha' to contest all the seats in the next Assembly elections.

Talking to newspersons here party convener Dr Jatish Chandra Mohanty, who opted for voluntary retirement, claimed that if the new party assumes power in the state it would remove poverty and backwardness in the next five years.

''Otherwise it will not contest subsequent elections,'' Mr Mohanty said and made it clear that the party would resign if the entire central assistance to the State could not be spent in the second year of its ruling Orissa.

Mr Mohanty said the new outfit would not align with any other party in the State and would focus on agriculture and forest based economy.

He said special plans will be prepared for Scheduled Tribes and Sscheduled Castes and 50 per cent seats would be reserved for women in the elections.

Mr Mohanty said nearly ten lakh members would be enrolled in the party which would announce its policy and names of office bearers on the first convention to be held at Bolangir in Western Orissa on October 9.

Samruddha Odisha, he said, would demand a minimum 50 per cent profit from mining sector as cess and make efforts for the development of every region and section of people.

the convenor of the party said it was more shocking that a poor State like Orissa had not been able to utilise central funds.

''Unless the Government prepares proper plans to increase the State's revenue, things will never improve,'' he opined.

UNI