Giridhar Gamang denies reports of quitting Congress

Bhubaneswar: After days of speculations, former Odisha chief minister and senior Congress leader Giridhar Gamang today refuted claims of quitting Congress.

Speaking for the first time since reports of him parting ways with the grand-old party started making rounds, Gamang said that neither he has contacted any party nor has been approached by any party. Coming down hard on the reports published in the media, Gamang said he was not the one who was contacted before publishing such news.

“I think answer to all questions is very easy as I have not left the party. I have not talked to any party as speculated,” Gamang said. Meanwhile, the speculations over his quitting the Congress gathered further momentum after his son Sisir clarified yesterday that the former would join a national party.

“If my father joins any party tomorrow, it would be a national party. There is no question of joining any regional player,” Sisir said, apparently putting all doubts to rest and clearly indicating that his father will be joining BJP as there is no other national party in Odisha other than the saffron party.