After Naba, MLA Jogesh Singh likely to quit Congress   

Bhubaneswar: After Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das resigned from Congress today, MLA Jogesh Singh is likely to quit the party ahead of the upcoming elections.

The indication came after Singh said that he will skip party president Rahul Gandhi’s Odisha visit programme on January 25.

Speaking to media on the sidelines of a party programme at Kinjijrikela in Sundargarh district on Tuesday, Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi’s scheulded programme in Odisha was finalized a few days ago. But I had already scheduled my programmes at village levels much before it. Since election is nearing, I cannot cancel my programmes to attend the party supremo’s meeting.”

Asked whether the party high command will take note of his absence during Rahul Gandhi’s programme, the MLA said, “First of all, people who have elected me as their leader are my high command. Mati (homeland) is first priority for me. Then comes the party.”

The Sundergarh MLA also praised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and said, “As a person, he is a very good human being. The party has been able to be in power for as long as 18 years because  of the supremo’s excellent political skills and capabilities. Naveen Patnaik is people’s favourite for which the party has been winning elections consistently.”

Asked whether he has plans to join BJD, Singh said, “Now I am in Congress and have not quit the party till yet. Since the people have elected me as their representative, they will decide it.”