Bhubaneswar: Kandhamal MP and former BJD leader Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh will soon join Congress, informed Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief Niranjan Patnaik on Thursday. Pratyusha is likely to join the party either on March 23 or 24. However, finalisation on her candidature is yet to be clear, said Patnaik.
“Pratyusha has expressed her desire to join Congress through a letter. She has almost joined the party and the formal induction ceremony will be held either on March 23 or 24,” informed the PCC Chief.
As Pratyusha had earlier intimiated about her willingness to contest either from Kandhamal Lok Sabha or Nayagarh Assembly seat prior to her resignation from BJD, Patnaik said, “We have already fielded our candidates from Kandhamal and there is no way we can change it. However, we will hold talks with her if she wishes to contest polls from Nayagarh or Puri."
Earlier on Thursday, the parliamentarian had resigned from the primary membership of BJD after she was denied ticket for re-contesting from her parliamentary segment.Tendering her resignation letter to BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Pratyusha said that injustice was meted out to her inspite of her loyalty and dedication to the party and people.
Meanwhile, sending another jolt to the State Congress unit, former Jaleswar MLA Debi Prasanna Chand resigned from the party today. In a letter to party chief Patnaik, Chand alleged that despite being an active and sincere member since 1992, he was neglected in the party.
“Congress is no more a people's party. I am not at all convinced with the ideologies and principles of party due to which I was forced to quit from the party,” said Chand.
“Though the Assembly tickets are yet to be allotted, the criteria on which Lok Sabha candidates were selected was very uncustomary and unfair. I am sure the party will allot Assembly tickets in a similar fashion. I do not see a bright future for the party if it keeps working like this,” added Chand.