Why Is Congress Steering Committee For Odisha Headed By Non-Odia? Asks Panchanan Kanungo

Bhubaneswar: Making an explosive statement, veteran Congress leader and former Minister Panchanan Kanungo on Sunday raised serious questions over the formation of a steering committee for Odisha by the AICC.

Creating ripples in political circles in the state, the former Finance Minister sought to know as to why a non-Odia has been made the chairman of the steering committee formed by the AICC for Odisha.

The veteran leader wondered as to why the AICC chose Ajoy Kumar to head the panel at a time when everybody is talking about Odia Asmita.

“It is unfortunate that a non-Odia has been made the chairman of the committee formed by the AICC. Were they unable to find a suitable Odia leader for the position?” Kanungo asked.

Stating that AICC in-charge for the state had never become chairman of any committee, he sought to know the purpose behind the formation of the steering committee.

Instead of trying to examine the reason behind the party’s debacle in the recent elections in the state, the AICC has suddenly constituted the committee, he said, claiming that attempts were made to suppress own weaknesses of leaders.