Odisha Cong Saves Face As Jharsuguda District President Withdraws Resignation

Bhubaneswar: In a dramatic turn to development in Congress party ahead of Jharsuguda byelection in Odisha, its district president withdrew his resignation hours after tendering it to the OPCC president on Monday.

Even as the Congress has announced its candidate for bypoll to Jharsuguda Assembly constituency and was  preparing for campaign with star campaigners, the party received a jolt as its senior leader and district unit president Ashok Kumar Mishra resigned from the post.

Sources said Mishra tendered his resignation from the post of Jharsuguda district Congress committee apparently dissatisfied with selection of candidate. Mishra, who was an aspirant for party ticket in the by-election, was reportedly disheartened after Congress fielded Tarun Pandey.

Mishra had sent his resignation letter to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanayak and AICC.

However, a few hours after tendering his resignation, Mishra announced at a hurriedly convened press conference in Jharsuguda that he had withdrawn his resignation on intervention of the OPCC president.

“I had submitted my resignation as the District Congress Committee president as there were certain issues regarding the party’s campaign plan for the bypoll. But I decided to withdraw my resignation after the OPCC president talked to me and assured of looking into the matter,” Mishra said.

The ruling BJD has fielded Deepali Das, daughter of slain minister Naba Kishore Das whose murder led to the bypoll, while BJP has nominated youth leader Tankadhar Tripathy for the May 10 by-election.

Also Read: Odisha Congress Suffers Jolt As Jharsuguda Dist President Quits Post Before Bypoll – odishabytes