Odisha PCC chief blasts dissidents; says only high command can decide on leadership change

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 12:

There is no pressure group or lobby in the Congress working for change of leadership, said Odisha Pradesh Congress  Committee (OPCC) chief Jayadev Jena, breaking his silence over reports of a demand within his party for a change of leadership in the state unit.

Jayadev Jena, PCC president, Odisha (Pic-Biswaranjan Mishra)
Jayadev Jena, PCC president, Odisha
(Pic-Biswaranjan Mishra)

“No group or lobby works in Congress for leadership change; it’s the Congress high command’s decision which is final in these matters,” said Jena addressing a press conference here today.

Jena said the high command keeps a tab on what’s happening within the party in states through different agencies.

Reacting to the get together held by some Congressmen in the state on Tuesday on the occasion of party president Sonia Gandhi’s birthday, the OPCC president said the AICC had clearly tols state units not to hold any celebrations on the party president’s birthday.

“It would have been better had the issues that were raised at the get together and reported in the media been discussed within the party forum,” said Jena.

On the issue of his resignation from the leadership of the party in the state, the PCC chief said that he had tendered his resignation to the party high command on May 16, 2014, the day the results came out, claiming responsibility for the party’s debacle in the elections in the state.

“I was given charge of the party in the state just seven months before the elections were held. Ii had indicated  that I would work for the party under any leader chosen by the high command to lead the party in the state,” he said.

Pointing a finger at those who had joined the Tuesday get together, Jena alleged that had these leaders extended a little more cooperation, the party could have performed much better in the state at the polls.

On the issue of some leaders leaving for New Delhi to demand a change in leadership in the state he said; “I have no knowledge why they have gone to Delhi”.

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