Senior leaders of Odisha return to Congress fold

BHUBANESWAR: Leaders and workers from different political parties on Wednesday joined Congress in the presence Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik and Odisha in-charge of the party Jitendra Singh.

Many of the leaders who had left the Congress raising questions over the State leadership returned to the party fold again at a special function at Congress Bhavan here. Prominent among those who returned to Congress include former State president of Trinamool Congress Arya Kumar Gyanendra. Besides, 22 executive members of Trinamool Congress and around 250 active members of the party joined the party.
Prominent among those who returned to Congress fold include former MP Kartikeswar Patra, former ministers Haladhar Karjee and Saraswati Hembrum and former spokesperson of the party Ashok Samal.
Welcoming all to the party, Patnaik said the fate of Odisha can be changed if Congress gets the support of people. Criticising the State Government for its all-round failure, Patnaik said Odisha is now passing through one of its worst phases.

Singh said the homecoming of leaders to Congress will help the party grow in the State further. Chairman of the campaign committee Bhakta Charan Das, working presidents Chiranjib Biswal and Pradip Majhi, former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal and many senior leaders of the party were present.