Bhupinder’s decision unfortunate, not to affect party: Congress

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 8, 2014 at 4:32 PM Updated On : Mar 8, 2014 at 4:34 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Mar 8:

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The Odisha Congress today described Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh’s decision to join the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as ‘unfortunate’.

“If what the media is reporting is true, it is most unfortunate. The Congress has given him everything… political position and social recognition.. you name it. I don’t know what prompted him to join the BJD,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jayadev Jena.

The party’s campaign committee chief for the state and Union minister Srikant Jena said Singh’s departure would have no impact on the Congress. “It will not affect Congress at all. It will harm him instead,” he said.

Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari lambasted Singh for joining the party he has been criticising all along. “As leader of opposition, he has been going hammer and tongs at the BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik day in and day out – both inside and outside the Assembly. He must explain what led him to join the very same party,” he said.

The BJP leader said Singh’s resignation just goes to show the sorry state of affairs in the Congress.

Rural Development minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said Bhupinder has proved the growing irrelevance of other parties in the state. “There is only one party in the state that enjoys the confidence of the people now and it is the BJD,” he said.