Odisha

Homecoming For Former Union Minister Srikant Jena As He Rejoins Congress [Watch]

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: With simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha barely weeks away, former Union Minister Srikant Jena returned to the Congress fold on Wednesday.

The four-time MP and three-time MLA rejoined the party in New Delhi in presence of Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar.

Speaking on the occasion, Jena said that he has always been a Congressman since his student days. “There were some misunderstanding which have been sorted for now. I have always worked for the party. I am happy to be back in the party again. There are challenges for the party in Odisha as both BJD and BJP are joining hands ahead of the elections. Congress and INDIA bloc will defeat them as their real face has been exposed,” he said.

He added that it is for the party to decide whether he will contest the upcoming elections.

The former Union Minister was expelled from Congress in January 2019 for his continuous anti-party comments. This came a month after, he openly challenged the leadership of the then state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik and resigned from all party posts. He was a member of the executive committee and the election committee of the Congress’s state unit.

Jena, however, softened his approach towards the party in the recent past and also praised Rahul Gandhi on a host of issues relating to tribals, Dalits and backward classes. Even after his expulsion from the party, he has never made any adverse remarks against Congress.

He represented the Balasore parliamentary constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. He was the Minister of State (Independent charge) for Chemicals & Fertilisers and Statistics & Programme Implementation in the second UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. He was Union Minister of State, Small Scale Industry, Agro and Rural Industries in the V P Singh ministry.

Eyeing to grab power in Odisha in 2024, the Congress has been facilitating the return of a host of senior leaders, who in the past had jumped to other political outfits under different circumstances.

In January, former Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang rejoined the grand old party with his wife, Hema, and son, Shishir after hopping over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and then to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Five-time MLA and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) minister Balabhadra Majhi also joined the Congress later that month.

Actor Manoj Mishra joined the Congress in the presence of senior party leaders here in February.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Donald Trump Close To White House Return; Kamala Harris Cancels Howard Speech As Supporters Disperse

New Delhi: Democrat candidate, Kamala Harris had to cancel her anticipated speech at Howard University…

November 6, 2024

New Twist To Death Of Elderly Woman & Daughter In House Fire In Odisha’s Sambalpur

Sambalpur: An elderly woman and her daughter were charred to death while sleeping at Hatapada…

November 6, 2024

Why Simi Garewal Deleted Post Defending Abhishek Bachchan Amid His Divorce Rumours?

New Delhi: Bollywood actress and talk show host Simi Garewal recently shared a post defending…

November 6, 2024

Odisha: Govt Engineering College Student Thrashed By Seniors For Raising Voice Against Ragging

Keonjhar: A second-year student of a government engineering college in Odisha's Keonjhar on Wednesday brought…

November 6, 2024

‘Mai Jald Hi Aaungi’: How Noted Folk Singer Sharda Sinha Kept Promise To Late Husband

New Delhi: Folk singer Sharda Sinha, who was admitted to AIIMS due to complications related…

November 6, 2024

Odisha Police Debunks Murder-For-Robbery Plot, Arrest Man For Killing Spouse

Jeypore: A 24-year-old inconsolable man, rolling on the ground unable to bear the loss of…

November 6, 2024

LMV License Holders Can Drive Transport Vehicles: Supreme Court

New Delhi: A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a…

November 6, 2024

2 Die, One Critical As Car Crashes Into Tree In Odisha’s Konark

Bhubaneswar: Two persons died while another sustained critical injuries as the car in which they…

November 6, 2024