Crisis Persists In Orissa Congress

THE CRISIS within the Orissa Congress shows no sign of resolving with the Pradesh Congress Committee president J B Patnaik and former Chief Minister Hemanand Biswal holding on to their respective positions on the issue of election of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader.

Mr Biswal met Congress President Sonia Gandhi this afternoon to explain his alleged misconduct after the CLP election after he had been served a show cause notice yesterday by the party high command for indiscipline. Reportedly, Mr Biswal's statements in the media soon after the CLP election led to the issuance of the notice. He had publicly expressed his anger over the alleged manipulation during the election. He had charged the PCC president with stage managing the election and destroying the democratic structure of the party.

 

Speaking to The Hindustan Times, Mr Biswal said he had discussed the situation with Mrs Gandhi and clarified his position to her. I am a loyal worker of the party. I have conveyed my sentiments to the respected leader during my meeting with her this afternoon, Mr Biswal said. He had earlier denied allegations that he had attacked the party high command in the Press.

Mr Biswal's angry outbursts soon after the CLP election seem to have made the situation worse. He went to the extent of calling Mr J B Patnaik an old, haggard politician who is ruining the party. The PCC president, on the other hand, has not made any such politically incorrect statement.

These people need to be disciplined. If he wanted to become the CLP leader, he should have contested the election. That would have been the proper way of going about it. Instead, he chose to remain absent obviously because he did not have the required support. What is the meaning of giving inflammatory and highly objectionable statements not just against me but also against the party high command in the Press.

As far as my ruining the party is concerned, I would have them know that they wouldn't have got five seats in this election if I had not worked hard for it. I forgot about my own constituency and campaigned all over the state, where were these leaders at that time, Mr Patnaik said.