Odisha Cong Leader Prasad Harichandan Breaks Down: ‘I’m Not A Trader, Won’t Contest 2024 Polls’

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Bhubaneswar: Under attack over ticket distribution for the panchayat elections, senior Congress leader and former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan on Thursday broke down and said that he was not a trader who brokered deals.

“I’m not going to the BJD or BJP. I’m not a trader and I don’t strike deals. I don’t have to strike a deal with the government for personal gains,” he said at a press conference in Odisha’s Capital.

He was responding to rumours that he had struck a secret deal with the ruling BJD.

“People who are spreading lies against me are the ones striking deals and I will expose them soon,” he said.

The Congress leader has been accused of not distributing tickets for the zilla parishad seats in Satyabadi Assembly constituency in Puri district. Harichandan claimed he was not handling ticket distribution.

“I’m not handling ticket distribution. Tickets are cleared by the PCC chief and I have nothing to do with it. The Congress should be fighting the BJD and BJP in Satyabadi. Unfortunately, we are busy with infighting there. We need to put up a united front,” he said.

Harichandan also said that he won’t contest the 2024 general elections. “I’m not running away from politics. But I will not contest the 2024 general election. I will remain in the Congress and work for the party,” he said.