‘Niranjan Patnaik to continue as Odisha Congress chief’

Bhubaneswar: Rubbishing the talks on removal of Niranjan Patnaik as Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) chief, the party’s Odisha In-Charge Jitendra Singh today reiterated that Niranjan will continue as the OPCC president. However, there will be the party’s organizational change in the State in coming days, Jitendra added.

Following a district-wise review meeting at Congress Bhawan, Jitendra told media persons, “Most of the talks on change in OPCC chief are rumours. If there is any opposition to the present OPCC chief, the party members can discuss the matter before the Congress High Command. But expressing the resentment publicly violates the party discipline.”

In his reaction, Niranjan said, “Congress party believes in democratic values. So decision must be taken as per the mood of the majority. However, indiscipline cannot be tolerated in the party.”

Earlier on the day, while a review meeting on Congress party organization in four districts was going on at Congress Bhawan in presence of Jitendra, Niranjan and other senior party leaders, some party activists shouted slogans demanding removal of Niranjan as the OPCC chief.

“Someone can gauge the mood at Congress Bhawan. There is a big gathering of party activists outside the PCC office demanding removal of the OPCC chief. Why students and women wing of Congress are not being consulted while taking a party decision,” questioned a woman party activist.