Denied party funding, Congress' Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty returns ticket

Congress Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sucharita Mohanty has returned the party ticket stating that her campaign in the Parliamentary constituency has been hit hard because the party denied her funds.

In a letter to AICC general secretary (Organisation), K. C. Venugopal, Sucharita said, "Our campaign in Puri Parliamentary Constituency has been hit hard because the Party has denied me funding. AICC Odisha In-Charge Dr Ajoy Kumar Ji categorically asked me to fend for myself."

She further said, "I was a salaried professional journalist who entered electoral politics 10 years ago. I have given all I have into my campaign in Puri. I tried a public donation drive to support my campaign for progressive politics without much success so far. I also tried to cut down the projected campaign spending to the minimum."

"Since I couldn't raise funds on my own, I knocked at your's and all other doors of our Party's Central Leadership, urging them to commit the necessary Party funds for an impactful campaign in Puri Parliament Seat... It is clear that only fund crunch is holding us back from a winning campaign in Puri," she said.

"I regret that without Party funding, it won't be possible to carry out the campaign in Puri. I, therefore, return the INC ticket for the Puri Parliamentary Constituency herewith," Sucharita added.

Speaking to OTV, Sucharita said, "The party is unable to fund me. Besides, weak candidates have been deliberately fielded in the seven Assembly seats under my Parliamentary constituency. I even urged the party to change four Assembly candidates. The party told me to fight the election on my own... At a time when the ruling government's vulgar display of wealth is prevailing at all places, I can't fight the election without funds."