Congress expels Soumya Ranjan Patnaik

The Congress Tuesday expelled senior Odisha leader and former Lok Sabha member Soumya Ranjan Patnaik for six years for anti-party activities.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) took the decision on the basis of a recommendation made by the state disciplinary committee, a party leader told IANS.

Patnaik, 61, an AICC member allegedly addressed several rallies across the state in the past months despite warning by the state Congress leadership.

Those who supported Patnaik felt the rallies rejuvenated the party which has been out of power in the state for the past 13 years.

"If this is the reward for serving the party for 25 long years, I have nothing to say. I do not think I have done anything to deserve this," Patnaik said, reacting to his expulsion.

"If expelling me helps the party or any particular section..., I wish them the best of luck," he told IANS.

Patnaik is the chairman of Eastern Media, one of state's leading media houses which runs the vernacular Odia daily "Sambad", radio Chocolate and several other media ventures.

He is also the son-in-law of Assam governor and former Odisha chief minister J.B. Patnaik and brother of former state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik. He was a Congress member in the 11th Lok Sabha from Bhubaneswar parliamentary constituency.