Congress faces revolt over ‘one man one post’ policy

BHUBANESWAR:Even as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) announced the list of presidents of all 33 organisational districts in the State, the ‘one man one post’ policy to be adopted by the party for distribution of tickets for 2019 elections has been opposed by a section of party men.

Former minister and president of Khurda district Congress committee (DCC) Suresh Kumar Routray has raised the banner of revolt against the party leadership by announcing that nobody can stop him from contesting the next elections. Routray said after his defeat in 2014 polls from Jatni Assembly constituency, he has worked hard for people with an eye on the next elections. “Now, nobody can stop me from contesting the next polls,” he said.

Recently, Cuttack DCC president and party MLA Prakash Behera had resigned from his organisational post to devote more time to his constituency. Though 11 DCC presidents have been allowed to continue in their posts by AICC, five MLAs who held the post were dropped. Sources maintained that the DCC chiefs will not be considered for party tickets in the next elections as per the ‘one man one post’ policy.

Meanwhile, party MLA from Koraput Krushna Chandra Sagaria has opposed the reappointment of Meenakshi Bahinipati, wife of Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, as the DCC president. Alleging that the appointment will in no way help party organisation in the district, Sagaria said Meenakshi had not supported Congress during elections. Tara too, after being denied a ticket by Congress, had jumped to BJP but was later re-inducted into the party, he said.

“None of us has won elections under the leadership of Meenakshi and Tara Prasad Bahinipati. We have won elections by our own efforts and support of Congress workers,” Sagaria said.