Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader and former Odisha chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik resigned from the primary membership of his party alleging that he was not getting recognition and honour in the state unit. He declared that he would not join any party and keep himself busy in social services.
On February 10, 2023, Patnaik had joined the Congress and was appointed as the campaign committee chairperson of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
Inspired by Bijay Patnaik, many former bureaucrats had joined the Congress. Similarly, some of the veteran Congress leaders who had quit the party had staged a homecoming. The Congress had also attracted many stalwarts from the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
In his reaction, Patnaik said, “I felt that I don’t have any place and prestige in the party. I also felt that my services were not useful for the party and hence I decided to quit. I will not join any party, rather I will go to people and serve them.”
Commenting on the development, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “Bijay Patnaik’s joining the Congress was seen as a major development. The party had given importance to him but gradually he was sidelined by the state leaders. The newly formed Congress Steering Committee did not have Bijay Patnaik’s name. Apart from giving him a ticket to contest in the 2024 elections, the Congress could not utilise the bureaucrat-turned-politician’s experience and expertise.”
Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee on Friday named four leaders — Rama Chandra Kadam, Santosh Singh Saluja, Srikanta Jena and Biswaranjan Mohanty — to make statements to the media on behalf of the OPCC.
“Bijay Patnaik’s resignation from Congress will have a negative impact on the party in the state. Similarly, it is also concerning the way Odisha Congress is functioning without a chief after its president Sarat Pattanayak resigned soon after the last general elections. The AICC appears to be quite confused and all is also not well in the OPCC as several leaders have been sidelined,” said political analyst Sriram Dash.BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 16: Senior Congress leader and former Odisha chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik resigned from the primary membership of his party alleging that he was not getting recognition and honour in the state unit. He declared that he would not join any party and keep himself busy in social services.
On February 10, 2023, Patnaik had joined the Congress and was appointed as the campaign committee chairperson of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC).
Inspired by Bijay Patnaik, many former bureaucrats had joined the Congress. Similarly, some of the veteran Congress leaders who had quit the party had staged a homecoming. The Congress had also attracted many stalwarts from the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
In his reaction, Patnaik said, “I felt that I don’t have any place and prestige in the party. I also felt that my services were not useful for the party and hence I decided to quit. I will not join any party, rather I will go to people and serve them.”
Commenting on the development, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “Bijay Patnaik’s joining the Congress was seen as a major development. The party had given importance to him but gradually he was sidelined by the state leaders. The newly formed Congress Steering Committee did not have Bijay Patnaik’s name. Apart from giving him a ticket to contest in the 2024 elections, the Congress could not utilise the bureaucrat-turned-politician’s experience and expertise.”
Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee on Friday named four leaders — Rama Chandra Kadam, Santosh Singh Saluja, Srikanta Jena and Biswaranjan Mohanty — to make statements to the media on behalf of the OPCC.
“Bijay Patnaik’s resignation from Congress will have a negative impact on the party in the state. Similarly, it is also concerning the way Odisha Congress is functioning without a chief after its president Sarat Pattanayak resigned soon after the last general elections. The AICC appears to be quite confused and all is also not well in the OPCC as several leaders have been sidelined,” said political analyst Sriram Dash.
