Odisha Congress leader who suggested Priyanka Gandhi should take up leadership role expelled from party

Moquim, 60, a former MLA from Cuttack-Barabati assembly segment, said he has ‘no regret’ for what he had done for betterment of the party.

“Congress leader Rahul Gandhi always says ‘Daro Mat’ and I got inspiration from his slogan to write the letter to Sonia Gandhi flagging the issues that impact the party. The party didn’t accept it and expelled me from Congress. I have nothing more to say,” said Moquim following his expulsion.

In a scathing letter to Sonia Gandhi, Moquim pointed to wrong leadership choices, the distance between the top leadership and workers, and the challenge of connecting with the youth as factors that have damaged the Congress. On the party’s recent poll debacles in multiple states, Moquim said, reflect a “deeper organisational disconnect.”
Moquim, who owns sizable real estate business, said several Congress leaders feel what I had flagged in the letter but nobody dared to raise their voice.

Having a considerable organisational base in Cuttack, Moquim said he would remain active in politics. “I’m a 24×7 politician and would continue to work for the community and people. I would discuss with my followers and advisors on my next course of action,” he added.

On his MLA daughter, Sofia Firdous, who currently represent the Cuttack-Barabati seat, Moquim said she is a Congress MLA and would remain with the party.

In his letter, Moquim questioned the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge citing his age and noted that under his leadership who is 83, the party has been unable to resonate with the youth. Moquim also pointed out his failed attempt to meet Rahul Gandhi for three years and took on Congress general secretary KC Venugopal for ‘favouritism’.

Urging for a central leadership role for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Moquim also questioned Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Das’s ability to revive party in Odisha, where the party lost six consecutive general elections.

While a handful of youth leaders came in support of Moquim’s views on Das, he failed to garner support of senior Congress leaders as he questioned AICC leadership in his letter.

“Everyone has the right to have difference of opinion but going public questioning the AICC leadership is not a healthy practice. It was expected that action would be taken against Moquim,” said a senior Congress leader.

According to Congress insiders, the action against Moquim indicates that Bhakta Das enjoys the confidence of senior leadership despite party’s recent performance in Nuapada bypoll and the recent development would further strengthen his position in the party.

“The discontent against Bhakta Das’s leadership will be suppressed to a large extent for the time being,” said the leader.

Moquim was previously suspended from the party in July 2023 — months before the Assembly polls. As he could not contest the election due to his conviction in a vigilance case, the party fielded his daughter Sofia Firdous from the seat, which she won by over 8,000 votes. Despite Congress’s weak organisation in coastal region, it was Moquim’s personal strength that helped him to win in 2019 and his daughter’s victory in 2024 from Cuttack-Barabati seat.

During the 2022 presidential election, Moquim had also gone against the party line and voted for the NDA’s presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu since she is from Odisha.

Moquim’s next course of action is yet to be known but sources close to him said he along with other sidelined leaders from various parties may join hand to float a regional party as joining BJP may not be an ideal step for him.

“An AIMIM-like political outfit may not be very effective in Odisha considering that the Muslim population is only 2 per cent. But a regional party can always be effective in a state-like Odisha, which was proved in the past,” said a senior leader.