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Bhubaneswar: A political row has erupted after new Odisha Congress chief Jayadev Jena made statements blaming Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his removal from PCC president’s job ahead of 2009 general elections.
Jena, who resumed office for the second time on Sunday, alleged the BJD supremo of hatching a conspiracy against him for his dethronement from Congress’ top job after the party achieved success in various elections under his leadership.
“Had the Congress not won Laxmipur by-polls, had the party not succeeded in grabbing 305 Zilla Parishad seats in 2007 Panchayat elections, Naveen Patnaik would not have been compelled to hatch plot to remove me from PCC president’s post,” Jena said addressing a gathering of Congress rank and file at the party headquarters here.
Sharply reacting to Jena’s remarks, BJD took a dig at the internal affairs of Congress.
“BJD and Congress are two different political parties independent of their respective party affairs. However, if Jayadev Jena considers Naveen Patnaik responsible for his removal from PCC chief’s position, then why doesn’t he accept the BJD president’s leadership and join our party?” veteran BJD leader Prafulla Ghadai said.
Jena, earlier, headed state Congress for four years and eight months until K P Singh Deo took over the reins under controversial circumstances about four months prior to 2009 general elections.
