Senior Cong leader resigns from party

Senior Congress leader Pramod Rath resigned from the party on Wednesday but with allegations against the party high hats.

Briefing the media regarding the reason behind his resignation, Rath said the Congress party in Sambalpur was functioning in a totally undemocratic way. He further alleged, “Naba Das, the MLA of Jharsuguda, is interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the party and creating problems here in collaboration with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).”

Rath questioned the reason the party for not giving a candidate for the post of chairperson while Congress is the single largest party in the Municipality.

“This shows the nexus among Naba Das, BJP and BJD in Sambalpur that has weakened and defamed this national party,” said Rath. He further questioned why Naba Das is interfering when Sambalpur district unit of the party is capable enough to handle its matter.

“If he is so much interested for Sambalpur politics, let him come here and contest the election,” challenged Rath.

He made another allegation that Das was also responsible for the defeat of so many Congress candidates in the State Assembly elections in the undivided Sambalpur district and it is known to all including the party seniors in Delhi and Bhubaneswar.

It needs mention that Rath is not only a Congress leader since long, but also the president of the Sambalpur District Bar Association and former Governor of the Rotary district.

In another development after election of the chairperson, a Congress councilor, Anita Nayak, also resigned from the Congress, protesting the decision of the party not to field any candidate for the post of chairperson.

“This is nothing but surrendering before the Opposition for personal gains,” alleged Nayak after tendering her resignation.

It is further interesting that the newly elected chairperson, Kalpana Sahu, admits that she had been elected to this post with the help and blessings from Naba Das, the Jharsuguda MLA and Prasanna Acharya, the Health Minister.

A section of leaders both in Congress and BJD have taken this matter seriously and are preparing to draw the attention of their respective party heads to the development.

Naba Das could not be available for comments. President of the Sambalpur District Congress Committee Rajkishore Das said, “Naba is not only the MLA of Jharsuguda but also a general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee. He has every right to interfere in party matters not only at Sambalpur but anywhere in the State.”