The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday approved a proposal made by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) to constitute a seven-member Disciplinary Action Committee, effectively making former Odisha Minister and Sundargarh MLA Kishore Chandra Patel its Chairman.
Besides Patel, the Committee also includes Sabitri Choudhury, Bijan Das, Jannaki Ballav Pattanaik, RN Mohanty, Pratima Mallick, Satya Bhusan Sahu and Sadan Nayak as its members.
As per the order, the appointments will come into effect immediately and the process will commence from today itself.
“Discipline is a vital component of any political party. And given the present situation of Congress it has become even more important to maintain strict discipline in the party,” said Patel while speaking to reporters.
Speaking about the National leadership of Congress, Patel said, “Interim National President Sonia Gandhi wants strict discipline in the party. So whoever is found flouting the rules will be dealt with accordingly.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the Working President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) and former MP Pradeep Majhi had resigned from the primary membership of Congress on October 22.
Speculations were earlier rife that Majhi would quit Congress. Majhi intensified the speculation after stating that there was not much ideological differences between the Congress and the BJD.