Bhubaneswar: Congress in Odisha has now to struggle hard to maintain its existence. The party has lost principal opposition status after its poor performance in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. The Grand Old Party could win only nine seats.
The Congress which had won 38 seats in the 2004 elections was reduced to 27 seats in 2009. The party could only manage to win 16 seats in 2014 elections. The party failed to attain double digits and only managed to win nine seats this time.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik took the helm of Congress affairs in Odisha when the party was going through a rough phase in April 2018. It was hoped that the party would sail through the 2019 elections under his leadership.
However, things got from bad to worse when several leaders, including sitting five MLAs and party’s working president Naba Kishore Das, quit the Congress expressing displeasure over ticket distribution.
“Congress lost a golden opportunity in 2019 which the party failed to capitalise. Congress needs young and dynamic leaders who can take the party forward in the state,” said political analyst Prasanna Mohanty.
Senior Congress leader Suresh Routray, who won from Jatni Assembly constituency, however has come in defence of PCC president, saying that blaming Niranjan Patnaik for the poll debacle was not justified.
“He is the only person who extended all support to the party candidates. However, our preparation was late and I could not reach the people with right message at right time. This time, we gave tickets to nearly 90 young people. They will take the party ahead in the coming days,” said Mr Routray.
Taking moral responsibility of party’s drubbing, Mr Niranjan Patnaik had on Friday resigned from his post.
Besides, senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das also resigned as chairman of party’s election campaign committee. Another senior leader Jagannath Patnaik also on Friday tendered his resignation from the coordination committee holding himself responsible for the party’s debacle.
“I have already offered to step down from Odisha PCC president post,” said Niranjan Patnaik.
“We failed to ensure that the Congress manifesto reached the people. The leaders who were in charge are responsible for the poll debacle,” said Bhatka Das.
