Senior Congress leader Jagannath Patnaik quits party posts

Sambalpur: Accusing the State leadership of Congress for adopting a wrong strategy in the 2019 polls, senior Congress leader Jagannath Patnaik today resigned from all posts of the party.

He announced his resignation from the post of Convenor of PCC Coordination Committee and member of Election Committee at a presser in Sambalpur. The State leaders of Congress did not allow the party to move forward the way AICC President Rahul Gandhi had visioned, he alleged.

The party is not going to perform well this election due to lack of coordination, poor organisational structure, lackadaisical poll preparedness and loopholes galore in ticket allotment process, he added.

“The party failed to strengthen its position in Odisha after Congress win in three States in 2018 December. The State leaders failed to cash in on the traction seen for Rahul Gandhi. It failed to tap the enthusiasm among farmers over party's poll promises like giving Rs 2,500/quintal as MSP for Paddy. I also felt the party failed to follow the proper norms in candidate selection,” he said.

"Now the mistakes need to be accepted and rectified. And those who were in charge should be held accountable. In coming days, plans have to be chalked out afresh and the party need to be strengthened," he added.