OPCC President Created Rift In Koraput Congress, Alleges Minakshi Bahinipati

The Koraput District Congress Chief, Meenakshi Bahinipati brought some serious allegations against the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik, accusing him of fermenting rift in the party's district unit.

Her outburst came at a time when preparations are underway in the party for the upcoming Panchayat polls in the State.

An angry Bahinipati said on Monday that she will not step into the party office until the dispute was resolved.

Speaking about the consequences of the infighting within the party, Meenakshi said, “The rift in the district Congress will have its impact on the Panchayat polls.”

Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, Niranjan Patnaik said, “I do not want to make any comments on the internal affairs of the party. The President will be responsible for anything that happens in the party. There should be no confusions in it.”

It is pertinent to mention here that senior Odisha Congress leader and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati had on Wednesday threatened to resign from his post blaming indiscipline by the State party unit chief Niranjan Patnaik.

Citing the presence of former Congress MLA Kailash Kulesika on the dais during a press meeting by party MP from Koraput, Saptagiri Ulaka, Bahinipati said that he was extremely disappointed on not being informed about Kulesika's re-induction into the party fold.

The preparatory meeting of the Congress party was held on Monday ahead of the State In-Charge Chellakumar’s visit to Odisha on August 31.

The meeting was attended by the OPCC President, Supervisors and presidents of 33 organisational districts.