Bhubaneswar: After the resignation of party leader Naba Kishore Das, the Congress Thursday suspended Sundargarh MLA Jogesh Singh, as part of a damage control exercise, as the legislator was planning to quit the party.
Despite the party’s recent eloctoral victories in three states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh – the state Congress, led by Niranjan Patnaik, is confronted by daily disertions.
Naba Das who resigned from the party is planning to join BJD. Similarly, Singh is taking steps to follow Das. Singh had announced Wednesday that he won’t attend Rahul Gandhi’s programme when he visits state January 25.
Taking note of the dissension, the PCC Disciplinary Committee has suspended Singh from the party. Committee convenor Anant Sethi said Singh was indulging in ‘‘anti-party’’ activities and his suspension has been approved by the AICC.
“We have served a 24-hour notice to Singh to respond. But he has not bothered to reply and invited disciplinary action,” Sethi said.
Singh’s comments earlier had triggered speculations that he along with Salepur MLA Prakash Behera might join the ruling BJD.
“I have never received any notice. I never said that I will leave Congress party. They have suspended me. So, I will resign from my MLA post soon,” Singh told reporters.
“The Congress party has suspended me because I made some remarks against it. Is it a sin to praise the Chief Minister for the developmental works in my area, he asked.
On his comments on Rahul Gandhi’s visit, Singh said, “As I have fixed other appointments in my area on that day, I had said I cannot attend the programme, but my workers will go there.”
The Sundergarh MLA did not deny his willingness to join the BJD. “Time will reveal it all,” he said.
Asked about his future course of action, he said, “I am a politician and will do politics. After consulting my advisors, I will take a decision.”
However, party leader Debendra Sharma said there will be no impact after Naba Das’s desertion.
