Lenka Urges Kesri To Withdraw Candidature

Prominent Congress leader and Orissa minister K C Lenka yesterday pleaded with AICC president Sitaram Kesri to withdraw from the race for the top party post and immediately initiate the process for a consensus candidate for the June 10 organisational poll.

I appeal to Sitaram Kesri to withdraw from the contest and initiate the process for evolving a consensus, Lenka, state revenue and transport minister said.

Recalling the Congress party's tradition of evolving a consensus candidate for the top party post, Lenka, a former Orissa PCC chief, felt a contest for the post would hamper unity of the party at the grassroots level as it would send a wrong signals to them.

Congress workers, in general, do not expect their leaders to campaign against each other during polls for the post of aicc president which is regarded as party high command, Lenka said.

Lenka, a former minister of state for railways, also suggested that Kesri should invite leaders of all groups in the party including Sonia Gandhi, discuss the pros and cons and solve the problem across the table.

This kind of across the table meeting is necessary for building the party image which has of late started eroding, he felt.