Bhubaneswar:Putting all speculations to rest, Jharsuguda MLA Naba Das today resigned from the primary membership of Congress and from the post of working president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). Das is likely to join the ruling- BJD during chief minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to Jharsuguda on January 24.
In his resignation letter submitted to AICC president Rahul Gandhi, Naba Das stated that he has no issues with PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and shares a cordial relation with him.
The resignation of Naba Das is seen as setback for Odisha Congress ahead of the crucial elections as he was appointed PCC working president in April last year.
"The people and voters of my area want that I should contest the next election on BJD ticket as they want development. I will place all these suggestions before Odisha CM and BJD president Naveen Patnaik during the latter's scheduled visit to Jharsuguda on January 24," Das wrote in his letter.
"I apologise for this resignation, as done so for the motto i.e development first," wrote Das in his resignation letter.
Hours after his resignation, PCC disciplinary committee suspended Naba Das citing anti-party comments by him.
Niranjan Patnaik stated that Naba Das’ resignation will not affect Congress in anyway. “As I had clarified to the media, news like this does pain me. But in hindsight, I think this is good for us. People who are not committed to the ideology & treat politics as commercial activity are doing great service to us by quitting. Odisha Congress stands STRONGER THAN EVER!,” tweeted Patnaik.