State Cong chief to meet 12 MLAs July 30

Bhubaneswar: State Congress president Prasad Harichandan will discuss with 12 party MLAs on July 30, who visited Delhi to meet party high command to inform about their grievances, said sources today.

In a bid to sort out the differences within the party, Harichandan will be meeting with the MLAs in presence of Opposition leader Narsingh Mishra, they added.

Notably, Congress leader Lulu Mohapatra told media that the 12 MLAs had gone to Delhi to meet the party high command seeking Taraprasad Bahinipati’s ouster from the party’s chief whip in the State Assembly last week.

Meanwhile, deputy leader of Opposition Chiranjibi Biswal, who was part of the team of MLAs that went to Delhi, stated that they had met the high command not to report about anyone. “The talks that were doing rounds in the State were a handiwork of some party outsiders to mislead common people,” Biswal added.

Replying to a query on statement from Mohapatra, who had spilled the beans on the purpose of the MLAs’ visit, Biswal said, “He was not part of the team that went to Delhi. I don’t know from where he got the information.”

Reasserting his earlier claims, Mohapatra said, “I am firm on my statements made before the media. Three MLAs of the team called up me and told about the reason behind the visit.”

The Opposition leader feigned ignorance about the differences in the party and said he had no news about that.

Interestingly, Harichandan has maintained a silence over the issue and did not make any statements regarding this in the public.