Niranjan Dismisses ‘Childish’ NSUI Leader’s Charge

Bhubaneswar: Responding to the stinging remarks of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) convener Itish Pradhan, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik on Friday dismissed those as ‘childish’.

“The outburst of Itish shows his frustration. He had contested the Assembly elections and lost it badly. He is trying to find a scapegoat,” Niranjan told mediapersons here after returning from Delhi this afternoon.

Replying to the demand of Itish for his ouster from the party, the OPCC president said leave alone Odisha, the poll performance of the Congress in other states was not up to the mark. “Does it mean that the party leadership in these states was weak? Did the party supremo take any action against them? I feel pity for Itish for his immature statement and poor understanding of politics,” he pointed out.

Taking a swipe at Niranjan, Itish on Thursday had said the OPCC president had ‘sold the Congress’ with his brother and BJD MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik acting as the mediator.

“The anti-party activity of the OPCC president will not be tolerated any more. We will give him sleepless nights and not allow him to enter Odisha after his return from New Delhi,” Pradhan had told the media.