Sura Routray confirms OPCC chief's resignation

Bhubaneswar: Prasad Harichandan resigned as the President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Wednesday owing moral responsibility for party's defeat in the Bijepur by-election, senior party leader, Suresh Kumar Routray confirmed today.

"He is an educated person, a gentleman and he has high organisational and intellectual capabilities. Therefore, he tendered his resignation owing moral responsibility. As the party was defeated he thought inappropriate to hold the post of OPCC president, so he sent his resignation to AICC chief Rahul Gandhi," said Routray.

However, Routray, who is also the father-in-law of Prasad, alleged backstabbing by some party leaders which led to Congress' defeat in Bijepur bypoll.

"From the day he took charge as OPCC President, some leaders were after him. During panchayat polls they went to meet party's national president and vice president Rahul Gandhi. During the current election someone met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Delhi, someone met him at his residence and someone from party was distributing money somewhere else. There are many who backstabbed," he said.

On the other hand, former OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik held all senior party leaders responsible for the defeat but denied to comment on the allegations of Routray.

"We all are responsible for the defeat; the Congress party is responsible. Sura Routray is a senior Congress leader and I don't want to comment on any of his remarks," said Patnaik.

When asked about will he be appointed in place of Prasad, Patnaik said the party would have appointed him much earlier if it wanted him as the next OPCC chief.

On the other hand Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati thanked Prasad Harichandan for tendering his resignation and said that it would be best if AICC President Rahul Gandhi accepts his resignation and appoints an appropriate candidate. He added that Niranjan Patnaik is the best choice for the post of OPCC chief.

In response to Routray's allegations, Bahinipati said, "Prasad speaks through the mouth of his father-in-law Sura Routray. Only Rs 15 lakh was provided to the candidate. He may have defeated the candidate but as per my knowledge Congress has never tried to defeat its own candidate. All leaders were trying their best for Congress."