OD-CONGRESS-SUSPENSION

The Odisha Pradesh Congress

Committee (OPCC) Thursday suspended Sundergarh legislator

Jogesh Singh for anti-party activities, a day after its

working president Naba Kishore Das resigned from the party.

"Sundergarh MLA Jogesh Singh has been suspended for

repeatedly giving statements against the party to the media

and tarnishing image of Congress," OPCC discplinary committee

convenor Ananta Sethi said.

Stating that the action has been taken against the

Sundergarh MLA with approval of the AICC, Sethi said Singh was

served a show-cause notice on Wednesday to reply within 24

hours, but he failed to respond.

Sethi also claimed that the party had expelled Naba

Kishore Das from the party before he resigned on Wednesday.

The development comes barely a week before Congress

president Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Odisha on

January 25.

Meanwhile, Singh said: "I have not indulged in

any anti-party activities as alleged. Is it an anti-party

activity to praise the chief minister for his good works?"

Citing instances, Singh said many Union Ministers

during the UPA regime had openly praised Odisha Chief

Minister, but their statements were not considered as

anti-party activities.

"Let me make it very clear that Naveen Patnaik is the

best chief minister in the country. He has worked for the

development of Odisha as well as my constuitency," Singh told

reporters adding he has not received any show cause notice

from the party.

Asked about his announcment of not to attend Congress

president Rahul Gandhi's meeting in Bhubaneswar, Singh said:

"I have already fixed certain programmes in my constituency.

This apart the marriage of my brother is also fixed on that

day. Therefore, it is not possible to attend Gandhi's

programme in the state capital."

On the possibility of his joining ruling BJD, Singh

said that he has not taken any decision in this regard.

"Future will tell what will happen. I cannot predict things."

Singh said since the party has placed him under

suspension, he would tender resignation from the membership of

the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Earlier, Das has also announced that he will resign

from the membership of the Assembly.

Sing, a two-time Congress MLA was seen sharing dais

with Naba Kishore Das at a programme in Kinjirkela in

Sundergarh district recently.

OPCC Discplinary Committee chairman Hemananda Biswal

said: "Odisha Congress had given Das the opportunity to

represent the people in the State Assembly for 10-long years

but now his decision to leave the party is not fair. However,

his withdrawal from the party will not affect the party

organisation in western Odisha."

Meanwhile, Prakash Behera, another Congress MLA from

Salipur in coastal Cuttack district, has also publicly praised

the chief minister and his party. However, no action was

initiated against him so far, sources said.

"I have already mentioned that BJD is strong in Odisha

for last 20 years and the regional party's position remained

same even today," Behera had said on Wednesday giving an

indication that he too was willilng to join the BJD headed by

Naveen Patnaik.

In a similar development, dalit Congress leader

Krushna Chandra Sagaria, who represented Koraput (SC)

constituency in the state assembly, had resigned as an MLA in

November last year. Sagaria, however, continues to be in the

Congress.