Bhubaneswar: Two days after his suspension from Congress, former MLA Chiranjib Biswal on Monday claimed that he had not done anything to weaken the party in Odisha.

“I was born in a family having close association with Congress party since long. My grandfather had taught us the ideology of Congress party. My father Basant Biswal’s contribution to the party is known to all. I am still in Congress despite my suspension from the party,” said Biswal at a press conference today.

Biswal, a former working president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), rejected the allegations that he was involved in any anti-party activity.

“I had expressed my views to strengthen the party in the state at a seminar organised in Odisha capital on May 8. I had cited the contributions and way of functioning of former Chief Minister JB Patnaik and my father, a former Deputy Chief Minister, to make the party stronger in Odisha in the past. Is it wrong to give suggestions for betterment of Congress?” said Biswal.

Biswal, who was Congress deputy leader in Odisha Assembly from 2014-19, also rejected the allegations that the grand old party’s candidate got poor votes at Jharsuguda by-election due to his comments on the prevailing situation at OPCC on May 8.

“It is being alleged that my statements at the seminar on May 8 were responsible for party’s poor performance at Jharsuguda bypoll. But, no one is citing any reason behind party’s humiliating defeats at Dhamnagar and Padampur bypolls,” said Biswal, who had been elected to Odisha Assembly twice on Congress tickets in the past.

Biswal claimed that some people having vested interests have hatched a conspiracy to keep him away from Congress party.

“I had been elected to Odisha Assembly in 2004 and 2014 despite strong waves in favour of BJD in Odisha. In the last Urban Local Body elections, Congress managed to win the chairperson’s post at Jagatsinghpur NAC due to my efforts. The people who do not have any political base hatched a conspiracy to suspend me from Congress. I urge thousands of Congress supporters and well-wishers to identify the conspirators and make all-out efforts to defeat their evil design,” said Biswal.

Biswal also made it clear that he will fight the 2024 Assembly polls in Odisha. “I will fight the poll. But, now I cannot reveal whether I will fight as Congress nominee or as an independent candidate,” said Biswal without disclosing much about his future course of action.