Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and former MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on Tuesday was expelled from the party for ‘anti-party activities.’  This was informed by AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha B K Hariprasad.
 
An official communiqué read, Patnaik has been expelled from ‘the primary membership of the Congress party for a period of six years with immediate effect.’
 
The action against Patnaik came less than a week after Union minister Jairam Ramesh had used strong words against the former and stated that the party would crack whip on dissidents soon.
 
"In future you will see the Congress cracking the whip," Ramesh had told a media conference here.
 
Though the minister had admitted that the party did not come heavily on those creating indiscipline inside the party, he said action would be taken in future.
 
Speculation was on the rife that the Congress top brass was contemplating disciplinary action against some senior leaders including Patnaik, who were openly challenging the state party leadership and not co-operating in party activities.
 
It was too alleged that Patnaik was running an organisation parallel to the Congress to bring ‘stability’ in the party.
 
On August 13, the party’s disciplinary committee had served a show cause notice to the former MP for allegedly engaging in indiscipline.
 
Scotching allegations Soumya however had said that he was not creating indiscipline within the party or running a parallel organisation. He had said he has been working to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
 
“I fail to concede that AICC has expelled me. I don't think I have done any mistake for which the Congress party decided to take such an action against me. But I feel if the expulsion of a worker like me would benefit and bring success to the party, it is a welcome step,” Patnaik told OTV.
 
“I have been loyal to the Congress party and have worked hard for last 25 years. But, I will continue the political programme to connect with the people of Odisha,” quipped he.
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