Revolt in Orissa Cong over denial of Assembly election tickets

A Jeypore report said Raghunath Patnaik on Sunday resigned from the party as he was denied ticket by the high-command to contest from his traditional Jeypore Assembly constituency. Announcing his decision to quit at a meeting of Congress workers, panchayat functionaries and block Congress committee members, Patnaik held former chief minister Giridhar Gamang responsible for sabotaging his candidature.

Patnaik also announced that he would file his nomination as an Independent candidate for the Jeypore Assembly seat. He alleged that the Congress in the state was a conglomeration of people withno commitments to the party.

Several party functionaries and district Congress leaders also expressed anguish over the high-command’s decision to drop Patnaik from the list and asked him to contest the polls as an Independent.

State Finance Minister Bhagbat Prasad Mahanty, also denied ticket to contest from his traditional Kendrapada seat, sought permission from CM Hemananda Biswal to resign from the ministership. Mahanty had blamed state leaders for denying him ticket and air dashed to Delhi to apprise party high-command of his case.

Mahanty also wanted to know the reasons for which he was denied ticket.