In the wake of the dismal performance by the Congress in the recently-concluded Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections in Odisha, the party’s State unit president Niranjan Patnaik said he is ready to quit his post whenever the All India Congress Committee (AICC) wants.
“Changing the leadership of PCC is not a new thing. In every two-three years, a new President is appointed. However, it’s an interim matter of the party and I am ready to quit as the President of the State unit whenever AICC wants,” said Patnaik.
“I had offered to resign from my post in 2019 as well. But AICC wanted me to lead the party in the State. Even now I am ready to give up my position. Our party has many other eligible leaders to replace me. I am not here permanently,” said Patnaik, adding that he will extend his full cooperation to the new PCC president.
Niranjan was appointed as the State President of Congress in April 2018 following a revolt within the party.
Contrary to speculations that the Congress would revive under Patnaik’s leadership, it faced the worst electoral debacle in various elections since then.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)