OPCC’s 2nd show cause notice to Tara, Anant, Prafulla

Bhubaneswar: The disciplinary committee of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) served show cause notice to three senior leaders of the party including two MLAs for their public statement against party leadership over Congress’ debacle in panchayat elections.

The Committee issued the notice for the second time asking the three leaders- Anant Sethi, Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Prafulla Majhi- to explain why disciplinary action would not be taken against them for criticising the state leadership publicly.

After receiving the notice, MLA and Opposition chief whip Tara Bahinipati further intensified his voice against the discipline panel. "The person who has served notice has little knowledge about the Congress constitution. What I have said is completely correct and I had said it for the betterment of the party", Bahinipati added.

The three leaders had earlier come out public against AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha BK Hariprasad and OPCC president Prasad Harichandan holding them responsible for party's dismal performance in the panchayat elections concluded last month.

The strength of the Congress, which had won 128 Zilla Parishad seats in 2012 panchayat polls, was reduced to only 60 seats this time. The party also slipped to the third position behind the BJP in the polls. While the ruling BJD candidates won in 473 Zilla Parishad seats, the BJP captured 297 zones.