It seems all’s not well with the Odisha Congress. The fault lines within the party appeared again on Friday when MLA and senior party leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati openly challenged the authority of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik.
Barely two days after threatening to quit Congress, Bahinipati took a u-turn and said, “Congress is not anybody’s paternal property. There is no question of quitting the party, but my fight against Niranjan Patnaik will continue.”
Earlier this week, Bahinipati had threatened to resign from his post over what he called ‘indiscipline behaviour’ of State party unit chief Niranjan Patnaik.
Also Read
Bahinipati had expressed his displeasure over the presence of former Congress MLA Kailash Kulesika on the dais during a press meet organised by party MP from Koraput, Saptagiri Ulaka. Bahinipati had earlier said that he was extremely disappointed on not being informed about Kulesika's re-induction into the party fold.
“Instead of sorting out issues, he (Niranjan Patnanik) is creating more trouble. Niranjan Patnaik should step down as he is getting old,” said Bahinipati today.
The Congress MLA further said that BJD candidates are winning by the name of Naveen Patnaik and same is the case with BJP candidates who sail through elections by Narendra Modi’s popularity.
“The Congress candidates including me won the elections on our own strength,” Bahinipati added. Meanwhile, no comments could be obtained from PCC president Niranjan Patnaik or the Congress over Bahinipati’s remarks.