Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: Former Union Minister Srikant Jena and ex-MLA of Koraput, Krushna Chandra Sagaria were dismissed from Odisha Congress today on disciplinary grounds.

In a press release, the Odisha Pradesh Congress disciplinary committee convenor Ananta Sethi clarified that both the leaders have been dismissed from the primary membership of the party for their anti-party remarks in media and comments against the office bearers of the party.

While Jena had earlier resigned from all party posts by openly challenging the leadership of OPCC chief Niranjan Patnaik in December 2018, Sagaria had formally resigned from MLA post on November 6, 2018.

Senior journalist Rabi Das said the grand old party has been forced to take such decisions despite getting weaker to send a strong message against those who are openly challenging the party leadership through indiscipline.

“It seems that the party leadership wants to prove its authority and make it clear that leaders have to fight under it during the upcoming elections,” said Das.

Senior Congress leader Sarat Rout said, "At a time when there is a need to strengthen the party, such dismissals are not a good sign. It is too late to enforce discipline in the party. There are a lot of recommendations of the disciplinary committee pending against several leaders. All said, there is a need for discipline within the party and it would not be right on my part to comment on the decision taken by the disciplinary committee."

scrollToTop