Rift in Odisha Congress, Dissident Leaders meet Rahul Gandhi

On a day when PCC President launched his much ambitious ‘Jagaran Padayatra’ to revive the Odisha Congress and bring unity in the party, several Congress leaders, including a few MLAs camped in Delhi against Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, seeking intervention of the High Command to end alleged mismanagement of the party.

Jharsuguda MLA Naba Das, Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh and former MLA Gobardhan Das met Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to apprise him of the situation in Odisha. Jogesh Singh went public by saying the unity within the party would be affected if Tara continues to be the Chief Whip.

The dissident leaders, who met Rahul Gandhi, intimated him about the rift and conflicts within the Odisha Congress, which is hampering its growth. They alleged huge irregularities in ticket distribution during the last assembly polls and also blamed the infighting and internal politics for the ouster of Niranjan Patnaik as the PCC President and expulsion of Soumya Ranjan Patnaik from the party.

The leaders also told Rahul Gandhi that some people took money to distribute the tickets, which resulted in the defeat of Congress candidates in various seats. The veteran leaders are being ignored and youth power is not being encouraged, they alleged.